THE FUTURE MOTHER IN LAW FROM HADES

she’s fierce and calculating

an Alien movie monster beneath a pastel facelift

occasionally she slips up

and the superficial umbrella of charm she projects

clanks down onto the granite countertops

of her architect designed kitchen

arrogant enough to believe she can con a Ph.D.

she leisurely unfolds her schemes for display

he should lose the nose ring

she said

he could stand to lose some weight

she whispered

and I think he’s allergic to your sweet little cat

she’s a diamondback rattler

docile in the shade

but thrashing and tearing away with fangs

when you step into her domain

she rules with an iron oven mitt fist

that she will slap you around with

if you challenge her zone of control