Dear Mother

At the age of five on my own A woman who Mother knows Came in and took off all her clothes I swore not to disclose After she stole my innocence, and my love for the unknown

Even now as an adult I struggle to find the right words I confided in Mother two years afterwards I wanted Mother to make me feel better But Mother didn't. Mother moved backwards

Mother had let me down Mother had left the room and didn't come back Mother is a coward It was all Mother's fault Six years ago, an older cousin had endured a similar torture

Fast forward to the present day I am glad the woman Mother knows is dead I am glad she suffered in her final days The feeling of depression, heartbreak, and hopelessness everyday Can finally embark on a journey faraway

Today, Mother tells me I don't visit enough Can you imagine this Mother that left me in a huff? Mother now calls me "My dear Joseph" But Mother won't see her grandchildren enough Because Mother treated my complaint with rebuff.