It’s never easy buying gifts for Mom.
She’s uber-practical – if she can’t see
a need or it’s not her idea, her palm
is in the air, between herself and me,
declaring she can’t use it, and what’s more,
insisting that I take the item back.
She won’t afford it shelf-space, but implore
me to rehome, regift, return, repack.

I searched this time for something that would keep
her comfortable when she’s alone awake.
I thought about the nights she gets no sleep,
and found a bed support designed to make
the reading easy, heated, buzzing, lit.
She gave it back. Now I’m enjoying it.