My Place

Why is it I cringe
when you walk through that door?
I have reasons -
At times,
I could come up with
But I think this one goes
Much deeper

Life was good growing up -
When Dad wasn't around
We could relax
We could play -
We could be o u r s e l v e s

Hours
Would
Go by
Days -
Weeks
And then,
Like a tornado
He'd come flying in
Twisting and turning -
With arms of fire
Shooting out from his
Eyeball that shook -
The left one (mom would understand)

Crazy
Was the word we described it
Devil
Is who I thought he was -

He came to put her in her place
Because at some point he hadn't found his -
No one showed him how to be a m a n

So this cringe
I know
Is wrapped up in this image -
And you have done nothing
To deserve it


I apologize for
these crevices in my soul -
Which have taught me to be unsure of my place
because hers went terribly wrong -