Mom

A Poem by Destiny

An honest depiction of the complicated nature of relationships

The push and pull is so disorienting
The push comes from the words that never bring comfort
The pull comes from the actions that always did

We speak in a vortex parallel to each other
One word out of place makes a wave
Which you've asked me not to make since childhood
The whole whirlpool comes crashing down
And it takes days to recover

We spent nights under the stars
Building fondness and admiration
And this home around us
Was a haven for me
When the intrude's footsteps boomed across the floor

"My mom and I's relationship is complicated"
My answer when they ask
How am I supposed to explain?
What even I can't explain

Your blanket covers Lark at night.
We have your nose.
When she marks up or breaks things,
I tell her what you taught me,
"It's okay honey, you're learning."

But you pass my house on the highway
You're next door and tell me later you didn't have time
You've held Lark 3 times in 4 years
You haven't held me in 10

Our push and pull is a rip tide
And it's too dangerous for me
To swim in these waters now