Soap

I’m washing myself with a sliver

of clear glycerin soap that is

barely there.  I’ve gathered

up shards of soap, remnants

for my travel case because

maybe I don’t deserve

a fresh whole bar?

Is that my mother?

“Use the scraps!

They’re still good.

They fit better in

the case than a whole

new bar anyway.

Put the new one

in the bathroom

for the people to use.”

As if I am not people,

but some other,

lower species.

But the soap

is now

disintegrating

in my hand

and soon

it will slip

through my

fingers and

slide down

the drain

and I’ll

have no

soap

at all.

Is

this

prudence?

Is

this

thrift

?

- Andrine de la Rocha

posted 10/27/2010