I Promise

I promise I’ll wipe your tears

I promise I’ll clean food off your soft round face

I promise I’ll hold you close when the pain feels too real

I promise to tie your shoes, and wash your clothes until you learn how

And I’ll hold your hand tight when you find your feet’s first steps

I promise I’ll pick you up when your arms reach for me

And I’ll sing you small lullabies.

I promise to show you your colors and letters and seasons and animals

I promise I’ll drop you off on time, and pick you up on time

And cheer for you win or loss

I promise I’ll help you through the tough times

I promise I won’t break you the way you’ll break me

I promise I’ll wait for you to come back

I promise I’ll wipe your tears

Come Up To Short

1, 2 eyelashes

3, 4 lips

5, 6

Nose and ring respectively

7, 8 dark circles

9, 10, 11 scars on my face

self made by self same hands.

Destruction in the deconstruction of

supposed blemishes I find daily on me.

Plucking poking pinching peeling

so as not to see any bumps.

Anything that will make like she was,

mother.

Who’s face festered and oozed.

Nightmares flooding my mind at night.

What can I do to rid my self of this

            self-perpetuated curse. (I hide my face.)

Her beauty rendered from inward out

My disdain/arrogance borne from outward in

Qualities of me inherited by the

            lesser parts

Of my family.

Blemished, short, hairy wild, confused, disorderly.

Kind, compassionate, nonchalant.

But I’ve learned to be grateful for the gifts

Of speech and insight, vision, truth, love, hope

            beyond what is physical.

I’ve inherited a kingdom of history

A world of knowledge

And thought this small vessel may seem at most times

Incapable of carrying the load

My ancestors help me.