Mother's Day, 2010

She came out of the bush,
lived in a box-car from three 'til nine
with her mother, the only females
in the railroad roundhouse encampment;
she trained under the nuns at St. Mike's
and brought their
perfectionism into the
hygiene of our home;
but it was her
adamantine will imposed
at the end of the oak
dowel that scared her
partner into a permanent
stutter and her offspring
into long term suspicion
of others;
if the one who gives
birth is the most feared
who can be trusted?