Murder
Claire Scott
Yesterday I murdered mother,
or maybe the day before
possibly sometime after lunch
I tucked her Hermes scarf
around her crinkled neck
yanking satisfaction
fists tense, nails slicing
a kitchen knife chasing
eyes vacant as steel
daily drops of belladonna
dripping delirium
breath held in icy suspense
enemas burning, bursting
naked in a shivering tub
I shot her bloodless heart
exhaling each ripping blow
firing and firing ecstasy
hazy nights, drugged days
doors locked against a child
I hear slippered steps jerk and scuff
time for milky tea and toast
made by your daughter,
the one-eyed jack.
Listen to Claire read the poem here:
Yesterday I murdered mother,
or maybe the day before
possibly sometime after lunch
I tucked her Hermes scarf
around her crinkled neck
yanking satisfaction
fists tense, nails slicing
a kitchen knife chasing
eyes vacant as steel
daily drops of belladonna
dripping delirium
breath held in icy suspense
enemas burning, bursting
naked in a shivering tub
I shot her bloodless heart
exhaling each ripping blow
firing and firing ecstasy
hazy nights, drugged days
doors locked against a child
I hear slippered steps jerk and scuff
time for milky tea and toast
made by your daughter,
the one-eyed jack.
Listen to Claire read the poem here:
About the author

Claire Scott has an MA in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Berkeley, CA. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania. Claire has been writing poetry for many years and has recently begun to submit for publication. She lives in Oakland, CA with her husband and is the mother of two sons.