do as i say

(not as i do)

it's like beating your head against a wall,

i comment calmly,

nothing gets through to me, does it?

and i can imagine i see him wince.

 

you had better learn to get along, or--

what're you going to do,

throw me down the stairs?

he has no response.

 

i fell on my brother, in a flurry of blows

(i can just apologize later,

there's nothing i've done he can't

forgive me for.)

sweetly. coldly.

and he leaves the room.

 

(how can he say that something's broken in my head

when i'm just practicing what he preaches?)

 

(cover my head until the doorway's empty

and then i'm allowed to cry.)

Author's Note

love you, dad.

Reviews

[Lyzzy Redd]

This is amazing, as always. I can really connect to this one, especially the "when i'm just practicing what he preaches"...yeah.

[ashley]

(how can he say that something's broken in my head
when i'm just practicing what he preaches?)

Very powerful, like always. This line in particular gave me chills. You have a way with words, your poetry always makes me feel. Great job.

[Judy Ponceby]

wow. intense. very sad in a lot of ways. Good write.