My son thinks that since there are so many parties
it must be Christmas’ birthday
that when people’s eyes are closed
their eyes have gone away
that macaroni and cheese
and spaghetti
cannot possibly both
be pasta
and when I ask him if he knows
this or that
he always answers
yes
tonight I snapped at my husband
for a key he didn’t lose
and I apologized
though my voice still sounded like metal
I asked my son if he knew
why I was in a rotten mood
and he said yes
then told me I was a bum-bum
and ordered me
to laugh.