MAMA GOT A LAPTOP

My mother hunches over
a new laptop
a gift from me
an invitation into now
and punches the keys
as if she were smashing ants
her fingers lifting
and lowering cautiously
almost mechanically
like baby’s first steps in
the white clunky shoes

And with fear in her face
illuminated by the backlight
of the future
she starts to chuckle
both nervously
and nostalgically
and says

Jason
this must be
how my father felt
when I tried to explain

a new thing
a new idea
a new technology

called checking accounts