Across the Line

The first time I heard the word
welfare was when I was ten
and mom struggled on her midnight
shift to bring home the bacon

or Chinese-Canadian food as they
called it from
her job as waitress.
business owner being so kind

meant we ate regularly.

It was the neighbours who
needed the loot
to pay bills and food and-and
too much more needed
since we were all on the same raft

with minimal means
except mom had moxie

determined to make a go of it.

I was unknowing then
how sacrifice and hard work meant
so much to her---to her babies

and now appreciate those lessons
without a need
to call
for help along the way.

© Richard L. Provencher