Five Karl had caught off

the rocks at Nohaval

yet for her tea be-

fore his mother drove

home to Louisburgh,

Karl’s wife Carol de-

frosts, grills, plates Mum up

the pair of uncleaned

mackerel he’d stashed

way down the freezer

for use as bait. 

There

is Carol watching

her mother-in-law fork

crumbling, grey, bitter

fish innards, though Karl

susses nothing till

Mum squeaks De-licious.

Kids blessed, Mum makes road.

Things had mellowed since

the days Mum had deemed

Carol beneath them.

–Warming, mused Carol. 

–You’re warming to her,

how?  

–The way she eats

up both mackerels not

to be giving me

the satisfaction.