THICKER THAN WATER
Cynthia Ruth Lewis
I can tell you’re ready to snap--
living with Mom would do that
to anyone
no, I take that back:
you have to be related by blood
to be affected by that woman--
she gets under our skin
because she knows she can
she knows well every sore spot,
every wound,
and wastes no time filling them
all with salt
I had enough of her craziness
as a youth;
even being on my own I’ve much
therapy ahead of me, still,
trying to unfuck what she screwed up
and the last thing I need is more
reminders around here...
bro, I’d take you back in a heartbeat,
but one suicide in the family’s enough
Previously publisghed in My Favorite Bullet
