Mother
written by: Genevieve S. Aguinaldo
Mother
sails on a ship back to her hometown
with a husband whose soul she refused
fifteen dead mice welcome her
a treasure hunt of smells
she picks them up
one after another
each station a prayer —
tariff of indulgence
she finds another one still alive
struggling with the trap
she looks at their bags
still unpacked
her dead mother’s picture
smiling
the father of her children
pretends to have a cold
Genevieve S. Aguinaldo lives in Los Banos, Philippines with her husband and four children. She earned her BA Communication Arts Degree at the University of the Philippines Los Banos and Diploma in Language and Literacy Education from UP Open University. Some of her creative works appeared inScarlet Dragonfly Journal, Cold Moon Journal, Wales Haiku Journal, The Fib Review, Take5ive, haikuNetra, and Shot Glass Journal.
Latest posts by Genevieve S. Aguinaldo (see all)
- Mother - June 14, 2026
- The Hour - June 25, 2025
- Wishing for Cicadas - May 6, 2024
