inspired by “Mountain Dew Commercial Disguised as a Love Poem” by Matthew Olzmann
Because every time we watch a movie,
you think we already watched it years ago,
even though it just came out.
Because you knitted 30 washcloths
when I was away studying in the U.S.
to keep your sanity. Because you probably
sewed at least ten different things for everybody
in the neighborhood. Because you saved
the phone number of that man who called us
pretending to be from the bank
in our phonebook as “swindler.” Then, when
somebody else tried the same trick again,
you changed it to “swindler 1” and
added “swindler 2.” Because you
make up recipes, and they always taste good.
Because you told me you tried to start the car
by pushing the steering wheel
in your driver’s license exam,
and when the instructor promised
he would keep this between you and him,
you asked why because you thought
it was the perfect story to tell.
Because when I laugh at my own jokes,
you laugh at my laughing voice,
and it makes me laugh more.
And one night five winters ago,
when the school bus dropped me off
at some random bus stop and I waited
for you to pick me up,
you emerged with a cup of tea
from Karafırın in your hand,
because you thought it would
warm me up, and it was
the best tea I ever had.