Kinds of cutting II

In her kitchen my mother kept
coin-edged knives and a swayback
board that skeltered on the counter.
When it was my chore I really did
try, but my slices went ever wider.
My wrist got sore and I gave up.
She was always serene as she reclaimed
the work. I grew up and learned sharp
was safer, offered to buy new knives.
My mother declined. Said certain things
should be kept dull. And in her house
she’d decide what to hone.

S.K. Hisega (she/her) is a queer writer, soapmaker, and attorney living in Minneapolis. She is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte and serves on the editorial staff of Qu Magazine. Her work appears or is forthcoming in Foglifter, West Trestle Review, Spout, Booglit, and elsewhere.