They Will Remember the Wrong Things About You by Mark LaMonda

They Will Remember the Wrong Things About You

Count on that as truth with a capital T.

Just as you have lost your mother’s laugh,

the timbre of your father crying.

All dust to dust, gone forever in the wind that blows through your mind.

The little t’s win the day.

     time & tenderness

The lack-of taken down, duly noted.

Pray they don’t remember the bitter man,

the man who woke up daily in the middle of an argument.

     You liked to chop vegetables listening to music

          Made your own greeting cards

               Hid presents     gave presents     reveled in the beauty of presents you received

Pray they don’t remember the sad man,

the man who never got over his childhood.

     You laughed hard, with a snort that surprised yourself

          Liked silly voices and unpracticed dance moves

               Loved to cook     watch others enjoy their food     eat, eat and eat some more

Pray they don’t remember the critical man,

the man with his father’s voice ringing in his ears.

     You were never good enough

          Afraid to reach out, knowing you would be slapped down

               Seeing disappointment     in the eyes     of those who only wanted your love       

     ashes to ashes, dust and bone

They were busy not seeing you,

while you couldn’t even see yourself.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mark LaMonda is an artist and writer who currently lives in Santa Clarita California. His work has appeared in Tough Poets Review, SoFloPoJo, Autumn Sky, January House and is forthcoming in Shadow and Sax, Still Here and ArLiJo.