Inheritance

by Terri Muuss

When my mind is a clear, precise thing,

I remember

my

father

standing at the stove flipping

buttermilk pancakes

steaming 5 pounds of clams

while melting butter—how they slid

from the mesh bag into the pot

like throated chimes.

(T)his smile—

the one without

sharpened teeth, without

I need to take

things from you           Nothing

more than    I love you

It was

            lips-teeth-gums with soft

edges and it felt—

Yes—

dare I write it—

safe

and came only when he cooked

which has always been—

(Oh)

my favorite love

language. And he looked at me

as if to say

            Take  t h i s

for the dark passage I will

send you on.

* * * * *

Terri Muuss is a social worker, director, performer, speaker & author whose poetry has received three Pushcart and two Best of the Net nominations. Her first book, Over Exposed, was released in 2013 and in 2016 Terri co-edited an anthology of NY women poets entitled Grabbing the Apple. Terri has performed her one-woman show, Anatomy of a Doll, around the US and Canada since 1998. Her second book, godspine, is forthcoming from 3: A Taos Press. www.terrimuuss.com