She watches, like a puppy
waiting for affection or a treat.She watches—yet rarely
is there a gentle touch,
or loving eyes.Instead, his eyes
are gunmetal.
His words are razors.You’re getting fat.
What do you do all day?
You parent like your mother.
Where did you get that outfit?
You forgot to get my cleaning again.
It’s beyond me how you got a degree.
Your friends say they don’t like you.
You missed a spot when you vacuumed.
You forgot to use heavy starch on my shirts. Again.
You get an allowance because you can’t handle money.
All I ask is that you do what I ask.
You can’t do anything right.She watches. And he turns, as though
she is a curl
of dog shit that one
would dispatch into sand
with a quick kick of his Nike.He never touches her. With his fists.”
This poem was written by Marlene Jezierski. She has written an entire e-book, Beyond the Mirror, that you can download for free.
