Betrayal
Our belly's flat with hunger, our skin cracks from cold,
we shiver and laugh when we see the breath come out
of our mouths. The five of us on the couch, wearing winter
coats, blankets tucked everywhere. Waiting for my uncle
to pick me up. because I am the weak child.
There is silence in the car.
They buy fast food, my mouth salivating, hunger
devours me. I refuse to eat. At the house they try again,
I shake my head no, but I know as soon as they leave the room,
I’ll swallow it whole. Betrayal is ok if no one sees.
Behind, brothers and sisters in a house of winter, with empty
bellies and mouths that form cold breaths like blowing bubbles.
Photo Album
Two photos lay in my hands heavy as heartaches.
Father and daughter stand alone in their frames
in that black and white past.
Father stands in uniform, the Army hat tilts to the right,
his legs apart, arms at his side, in the right hand a cigarette
dangles. He smirks.
Did he take the photo of me, the girl trapped in the black
and white?
There is a door behind me I stand against its frame
hands folded rigidly; I eye the camera as if I was looking
into the future.
I talk to the child in the photo.
Good girl stay near an exit find your way out of the black
and white scars.
Do something with your black and white dress.
Make the hem bounce,
dance off the lens,
stand on your toes with your shiny black
buckled shoes.
Jump.
Leap out of the past.
Comentarios