Using sorrys to cover responsibility
children are passed from one spill
to the next band-aid blaming accident

in the hangover of hedonism
sobs and insults have the same register
problems of survival inherited
through the death of ego sucked dry

a wall of rules keep guilt out
every jumble of that jenga judgement
justifies the hiss of condemnation
words vivisect to construct the gears
of a self punishing clockwork

but still the cries and fluids get through
the bodies swinging too animated
questions betray the fragility of authority
bed rash and unwashed skin
mimic the bruises of childhood still dirty
soap and scrubbing turning skin to tiles

a hand reaches through
that kid block facade
though little it is earnest
hoping for mother to grab
knowing pain will climb
prepared to coddle always
and yet the pull is young

a hug so tight that shame
presses out the eyes
nothing left to disguise
mother voices loudest pain
holding not with honor
but in a shattering of self
her quiver responding to help
grasp to fight old horror

past the blocks of edicts
seeing the lack of what's needed
she touches the mess
hard edged pieces of neglect
betray which was meant to protect
she crouches to confess
but grabs onto a trashbin instead
helping child wash away her debt
she joins her son in mothering.