Never was I able to smile
at her sickbed
that’s why mom
was unaware
of the dimple
on my left cheek

As the medicine on the
bedside table accumulated
I would rejoice in
the growing skyscraper
I made from the boxes

And I didn’t realize
that the only color
in mom’s life
was the jams
in the jars
lined up on the shelves.

translated by Suat Karantay