Conflict resolution

She sat with a stoic face
As her friend went on and on
About her dislodged tooth.
As if one tooth could be reason enough to leave him.

These things happen between couples
But you don't trifle with marriage.
What a madwoman her friend was
Angrily muttering she should have broken his tooth in answer

Why would she want to rob her husband of his tooth
And make life difficult for herself?
How would he then chew
The ground glass she mixed in his food?

First published in Singapore Unbound, 30 Dec 2018.

Grounded

I am worried my grandmother doesn’t sit
And she is afraid to,
After all these years
Of having been kept on her toes,
Waiting on others hand and foot . . .
She says she’d no longer be able to stand
If she sits down now.

If I sit
I shall remain sitting.

First published in Singapore Unbound, 30 Dec 2018.