Doing Laundry at a Women's Shelter

Doing Laundry at a Women's Shelter

On one of those Chicago nights
that shit just rains sideways,
she pours some knock-off of Tide
on her kids' hand-me-downs,
notices her oldest reading
a Green Lantern comic
instead of his usual Batman—
master of moonlit justice
that appeals to his Irish impulses.
Her son tells her, "He can fly.
Form shields when needed."
After a pause realizes,
"Make giant green fists."
Her son asks if Green Lantern
is Irish as she knots her hair—
there's still work to be done.
She wonders if her boy's future
will parallel the choice
Thetis gave her son.
She likes him reading
about a hero who can create
something out of anything.