Don't Forget.
Don’t forget
to wash your neck
and behind your ears,
Aunty said.
And make sure
the water’s hot enough
to do the job,
no dabbing,
get scrubbing,
dirt doesn’t like
hot water.
OK Aunty,
you said,
and tramped
your way
to the bathroom
and turned on
the tap
and placed
the black plug
into the hole
and watched
the water
run into the basin
until an inch or so
was there
and turned off
the tap.
Dipping two fingers
into the water,
you applied them
to neck
and behind the ears.
Looking into the mirror
above the sink,
you saw
your boyish face
washing away years.
