SCALE
by Sherry S.

My much-married, once-in-the-movie-biz
mom long ago intuited that the majority
of men are visually led. When we shared
a cabin on a cruise, preparing her face
and figure for observation occupied
hours of her time, as my less
rewarding preparations did mine.

Again at home and caring for something
living besides myself, I scraped scale
from a newly afflicted houseplant.
Touching leaves white crud had
forced to curl, I recalled Mom's
words, uttered with compassion.
"If I had known what you would have
to go through, I wouldn't have had you."