with two toothbrushes
and brass polish. Wetted bristles
cleansing the brass plaque
embedded in the wooden bench.
She reads out the plaque inscription:
In loving memory
of Norah and Ambrose Taylor.
There sits Ann Clifford,
neé Taylor,
nay, Grandma
born to the names
on the plaque.
She has been scrubbing
for more than twenty years.
Next to her
sits Norah Clifford,
born to Andrew Clifford
and his wife, Marica.
This is her first time
scrubbing.
Offerings of manual labor,
labors of love,
repeated labors
of relentless scrubbing,
sacred scrubbing
set to bagpipe hymns.
She teaches me
the best way to hold the toothbrush
and bend the elbow.
We admire our work
and sit in silence
hands folded in our laps.
The mountain before us
blesses our endeavors.
Benediction.
The two toothbrushes
return to the bag.
And we process off the island.
Norah Clifford grew up in Lambertville, New Jersey. Norah holds a B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Music Performance from Franklin & Marshall College. Norah currently lives in New Orleans, Louisiana where she interns with the Tennessee Williams Festival nonprofit. You can contact Norah at norahmclifford@gmail.com.