Stay

Stay

Mommy told me about a house

In Luxembourg where she and Daddy

Stayed.

It belonged to an old couple,

Who supported Hitler in 1942,

But in 1989, welcomed Chinese immigrants.

Every morning bird serenaded the sun’s arrival,

And my parents would eat boiled eggs

On white china plates, and a checkered table cloth.

“The best eggs are cooked until the yolk is just

Becoming hard; when you eat it you should see gold,

Not yellow.”

Daddy listened attentively, intrigued.

He saw how the sun glinted in the

Mister’s eyes when he talked about eggs.

He was happy.

And to this day,

He eats his eggs in that way.

But one morning, when the birds serenaded the sun,

And the Mister handed my Daddy a silver knife

To cut the egg, as he always did. He

Sat down at the table, and bore

The sweetest smile.

“How long do you plan to stay

in Luxembourg?”

My Daddy almost dropped his knife.

Mommy smiled back and said,

“So lange wie möglich”

“Gut” the Mister said.

“I hope you enjoy the eggs.”

“I always do,” Daddy replied sadly.

Mother had silently gone upstairs

To pack their bags.

Notes:

"So lange wie möglich" means "As long as possible."

"Gut" means "Good."