motherly love

Mama, love me
the only way you can
through the dark cavern that is your chest,
carve a way through your self-love
try to find a piece of your heart that still
has a beat

come on, Mama
lay it all on me in pounds
kilocalories of your infamous love as
the scale starts to sink under pressure
until I hit self-loathing
how much can I eat before I hate myself
even more?

you taught me love through
muscle contractions in my chest
that restrict
threaten
aching just beneath my skin

no, it’s not my heart
that’s you stepping on my lungs, Mama
I can feel you suffocating me with your love
sung in the form of arguments in D minor
you have such a lovely voice when you yell,
is that why you wake the neighbours?

i love you, Mama
the same way you taught me with thorns
wrapped around that organ in my chest
that prevents anyone from coming too close
can you feel my love, Mama, the sting
of my tears and the toxicity of my voice
beating out the same song
you taught me?

love me, Mama, love me with your palm
as it shatters the skin on my cheek
just as it shatters the symphony, like
the strike of a cymbal
as the orchestra settles, you turn
face your audience
bow
applause
and exult.


(c) 2011 The Avalanche
Best viewed in Mozilla Firefox
Contact: taylor(at)crookedteeth.org