Claire Brennan, Ohio University

Mom tells dad to put down his drink for the night,
and he calls her a broken record –
I guess like the time we were listening to the Rolling Stones when the needle
dragged too far and Mr. Jagger sounded like the devil, and dad told me it’s because
I slap my feet too hard when I walk.

In the kitchen,
I ask mom what he means,
and she tells me to always take my dad’s words
with a grain of salt,
which she puts around the rim of her glass.

Claire Brennan was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is now in her third year at Ohio University, studying English and Film.