WAL-MART PARKING LOT

my mother and i 

decided to go shopping

for my sister's birthday.

in the car,

she tells me all

the ways i've failed.

i've hurt her, she says

i've ruined the family

she resents me.

i need to get it together

i need to stop crying

before she goes to jail.

shut up, shut up,

she said stop crying

why am i still crying?

the car slows at

Wal-Mart

and i exit the car.

she closes the door

and drives away

with no other word.

i am speechless.

she returns some 

five minutes later

and says she's done with me.

after today,

she will never 

talk to me again

so i swallow burning sobs

and i clench my 

shaking fists

and she leaves me 

back at my 

apartment.

i have no more

sobbed in my 

husband's arms

when she texts me

again.

"so are you really

just not going to be

at your sister's birthday?

either you're here

or i am

but i wont be near you."

i tell her she 

birthed my sister

so if she's forcing me

to choose

i will remove myself.

because after all,

she will be fine without me.

she calls me selfish again,

saying i don't care enough

to want to be there.

so i swallow my sobs

kiss my husband goodbye

and go see my sister.

my mom is still there.

my sister is happy.

and my mom looks to me

and says

"i found an e-bike

your sister wants.

its 700, can you get it?

its her birthday

she deserves the best."

and i am ever the fool

who agreed.

Author's Note

This is less of a poem and more of a journal entry. This is a true story, happened yesterday, and this morning I am trying to wrap my mind around it.

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

How tragic this story is! A mother who speaks this way to a daughter has something severely wrong with her. How does your sister fit into this scenario? Does she think your mother is right to treat you this way? Anyone who makes you cry and makes you feel less than you actually are should not be in your life. Difficult to cut out a family member, especially a mother, but sometimes necessary. An emotional outpouring....and well worth the read. Lydi**

[Davidgeo]

The only thing you can control is how you regulate the emotions you feel from the situation you find yourself in. At least, that's what I say to myself when I find myself in unfavorable emotional situations. I think it helps.

Journal entries count as poetry. They can be the best poetry.

[Green]

This is heartbreaking to read. I am so sorry that it has to be a true story. Sometimes families are hard even when they shouldn’t be. Just make the best decision for you, that’s all you can do. It made a very poignant poem.