As Close as I Can is Toni's second volume of poetry. Here, with affection and insight, she examines the breadth and boundaries of family, place, language, and self.
The Weight
My ex mother-in-law gave me an anvil for
Christmas. Robert brought it over when he
dropped the kids off from their every-otherweekend
with him. “Where do you want this?”
he said. “How about the top shelf, above the stove,”
I said. “Are you kidding,” he said, “this thing weighs
a ton!” “Why do you suppose your mother gave
me an anvil?” I said. “Is it some sort of metaphor?”
“How should I know,” he said. The children were
jumping up and down; “Na-na, Na-na, Na-na!” they
chanted. “Just put it anywhere,” I said.