writing from
Scars Publications

Audio/Video chapbooks cc&d magazine Down in the Dirt magazine books

 

Download this writing
in the free chapbook

RAW
the 05/27/10 chapbook
of poetry from Mike Berger, Ph.D.
RAW: a Mie Berger, Ph.D. chapbook

Order this writing in the book
(bound)
cc&d poetry edition
(bound) cc&d poetry collection book order the
5.5" x 8.5" ISSN# book

order the
8.5" x 11" ISBN# book

Joey

Mike Berger, Ph.D.

Joey played his role far too well.
He was the glue that kept his
parents together. He feared his
family would fall apart when his
parents fought. He would act out.
His parents would join together
to correct their wayward child.

His father was a drunken railroad
man; his mother was a shrew.
Dad would smack him around
and his mother would scream
at him. He learned not to openly cry.

He would go outside and sit on the
dilapidated swing and tears would flow
from open water spigots. His marriage
counseling wasn’t enough. His dad left.

Mom became sullen and reclusive. She
in the dark corners of her mind. Joey
became a surrogate parent. Looking out
and fixing for his little brother.

A social worker came when he missed
school. Joey convinced her that he had
been sick. Mom rarely got out of bed as
she went from bad to worse. Joey couldn’t
keep up.

The power company shut off their electricity.
The kitchen cupboards were bare. Joey tucked
his little brother in bed and on the old tree
in the backyard he hanged himself.



Scars Publications


Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.




Problems with this page? Then deal with it...