Faults of my Mother

My mother was a wild one.

Beautiful.

Brilliant.

She knew to take care of herself.

Dutiful.

Resilient.

My grandmother told her

Now that she was grown

To go to college.

But instead

She took off on her own.

Once she found a place to live

She knew how to live right.

She slept the morn’

Worked the eve’

Then partied every night.

And then she met a man.

Charming.

Resourceful.

He knew how to win her.

Disarming.

Forceful.

He was as handsome as they came.

He made his mark by theft.

Yet being with him
My mother felt

She would not be bereft.

He stole from her and hit her

Yet they did not grow apart.

She saw in him

Someone who cared.

For that, she gave her heart.

They had me as their baby girl.

Beaming.

Smiling.

A hope for a better future.

Dreaming.

Beguiling.

But my dad went to prison

For a hold-up with a gun.

He called my mother

From his cell

Not to tell her what he’d done.

Instead he threatened her

That he wanted custody

Of me when

He got out

Or it would get bloody.

Grandma knew mom would come back.

Sad.

Disappointed.
She’d have to help support us both.

Mad.

Disjointed.

We got a room at grandma’s and

A restraining order found.

Mom got some loans.

Went to college.

Turned her life around.

Mom wants to protect me so

Can’t spend much time with friends.

Only go out

On Saturdays.

Leave at six, back at ten.

But then I met this boy at school.

Dark.

Mysterious.

He knows what life is really like.

Stark.

Serious.

I feel all alone because

My mom is so demanding

But this boy

Is the only one

Who really understands me.

Even though he hits me

We’ll never grow apart.

I know he loves me

Deep inside

So I’ll give him my heart.