The Lines That Mama Recited To Our Housemaid Poem by Antonio Liao

we just hired a new housemaid
and i like her
because she sings like a
mountain bird

her voice like the wind
passing
by the dainty leaves
of summer

she has the native color
of a fertile
brown soil
her skin glows
like a shiny buri
mat

but then mama
is so old and cranky
and her lines
are dirty:

linda! linda! where's my tea?
linda throw wipe my urine
linda wipe my anus
linda wash my v.gina

linda, i have vomits
all over my bed
linda, clean my room
linda, wash the plates
linda, swat the flies
linda, take my lice
linda, wash my spittle

linda! linda! linda!
stupida! stupida!
stupida! stupida!


since then i have
never heard her sing
since then i have
not seen her smile

but really, i like
her more.......