Baba, an American Woman, illustrated by Angelin Miller

Baba, an American woman

When my grandmother was dying

I asked her—I don’t remember

the question, the exact wording—

something like, what truths have you learned?

Very old people sat watching

game shows. Baba was pretty far

gone already, prone to private

spirals of thought. We sat in chairs

at a round table. Two sedate

nurses counted pills. A bell rang

from the TV: a contestant

rewarded for a good answer.

She said, “America, a light

among nations…” Then she warbled,

“Israel.” “Israel?” She turned

her head toward the picture window

filled with a seasonless color.