"Keep off the Grass" and Mothers
then,
will let us know we failed
will let us know when we are stupid
all the while telling us they love us
warn us with burning effigies
till we feel like Joan of Arc facing a world
like heretic sinners even God will shun;
and Mothers
will rip the chord at birth while wrapping it around our necks
and squeeze out the very life they gave us.
every day the letters come
like addendums to syllabi
the extra tests, impossible to pass
the extra points we might attain
for being the perfect we can't
the grade contingent on meticulous reflection
in a blemish free mirror,
who are we at middle age
but a shaved lawn with ornaments
to impress the neighbors
yet one that can't be walked upon or with
in bare feet,
we are too cutting, too cynical, unaccustomed to touch
and Mothers
love and love more
till the mind becomes sore
with diluted confusion
and takes baby steps back to the womb
till we map quest the hospital from which we were born
wanting so badly to go back and start over.
and Mothers
love and love more
never understanding the gore
of heart
the chaos rising like blades of grass
that cower the sun
because too many rainful words
splattered self-esteem
left rope burns on their courage to move forward
and a report card to be ashamed of...
and Mothers
all the while tell us they love us.
erin-cilberto | 
