When I Swam for the Utah Valley Dolphins

My mom could sleep each night 
without waking except 
when my ear ached so much 
I became a nightmare 
to my brothers. She rose 
from her bed, in her robe 
she swayed to boil water. 
She made warm medicine, 
while I lay down, aching 
side up. I listened close 
with ray good ear to her 
shuffle in the kitchen, 
open cupboards, she came 
in two or three minutes 
to my room. She dripped two 
drops into my eardrum. 

I waited for a pop 
and the wet to dry. 
What she whispered 
was softer than eardrops, 
better than any dream.