Knocks

I made my mother many things

molded Jell-O green glass keys

leather strap ID wristbands

all of my creativity laid waste

in the bottom of the kitchen

trash can something that my

my young and hostile mind

could not grasp and understand

aware that I was not my mother's plan

how she would look at me with

a glance as if to say

"Why are you here" at the same time

her eyes would light up with fear

of everything around her

like she had escaped from hell

and the devil found her

all she ever wanted was a man

to take her hand and place a ring

around her finger

so she often entertained too many

strangers just one broken promise

after another not one asked for

the hand of my mother but I

did gain another sister and brother

my mother's heart turned bitter

so she blamed her mismatched

children who caught plenty of hell

from the consequences of her

kiss and tell sick from drinking

from her own poisoned well

her illness did not allow her

to nurture and wish us well