Orphan

by Mish (Eileen) Murphy


Now that both of my parents
have died,
I get depressed
cooking

family dinners for
those among my siblings
who are still speaking
to me.

It’s no use thinking
of past
dinners

when Mom
always showed up
late

with her fiancé-of-the-week,

wearing her poncho
the color of sunflowers and
an old straw hat

she insisted protected
her face better than
any sunscreen.


* * * * *

"Orphan" was previously published in 13 Myna Birds (2022).

Mish (Eileen) Murphy is Contributing Editor and emeritus Assistant Poetry Editor for CulturalDaily.com. She teaches English/literature at Polk State College, Lakeland, Florida. She graduated from New College, Sarasota, and Columbia College of Chicago.  A Pushcart nominee, she has published two poetry collections—Fortune Written on Wet Grass (2019) and Sex & Ketchup (2021)—and a poetry chapbook, Evil Me (2020).