According to My Ex-assistant’s Son

(assignment 21, write a poem entitled according to___)

My purpling knee injury
which rendered me bedridden
for nearly one month
could be miraculously cured
if recalcitrant adults would just heed
his repeated baby words.

“Put her in the chair, mommy.”
“Put her in the chair, mommy.”
“Put her in the chair, mommy.”

His refrain repeated, everyday and often
when he visited ill, prone, irritated
aunt by designation.

On the day,
I was well enough
to be mobile.
He points at me, driving around
chasing him through parking lot,
tired after near month of non-exertion
and says, defiantly,
“See?”