We are playing on your bed
and you turn to me
with a big smile and say
let’s play Jack and Jill
for God’s sake
and I know right away
where you learned it
because I can imagine her voice
half-laughing
half-exasperated
as you run around her apartment
a wake of crackers
and antique toys behind you
which is not at all like the time
a few weeks ago
when I asked you to brush your teeth
and you said
one option is for me
to have a cookie instead
and I laughed
even though I was dog-tired
but for days I couldn’t think
where you had learned that one
until it came out of my mouth
like a robot
like a line from a book
that surrendered language of mothers
I prayed I would never use.