The Ghost, The Thief & Forgiveness I. daddy i never knew you you flew over the pacific away from rice terraces & banana trees only cowards run away i grew up living with your ghost i'd gnash my teeth while in sleep the cigarette that dangled between your fingers slipped & scorched my flesh you were the thief who took my life II. daddy i have been a good girl i get straight As i'm polite to strangers show good manners do what everyone tells me i can speak english with no accent you will be happy that i am an american now daddy school sent me home for the paltry issue of dirtying the stairwell with contents of my blood i did not feel anything when the blades scraped & cut my veins open to be swift and efficient i slashed vertical i was smart as always daddy i promise i will put the dishes up keep quiet and cover my eyes from your neglect & your bastard children & your thief wife just let me inside your home III. I don't resemble my mother I have your eyes your nose the color of your skin the full mouth We are connected by an invisible rope made up of memories and bloodline my daughters are your descendants fresh from my womb, they were replicas of you I've been buried with ghosts hatred and regret were bandits took me captive, too many years wasted I released myself recently We are unpredictable evil in our human armor oblivious to the havoc we create But this I know, forgiveness is boundless it lives in our hearts without a falter Like gold, you have to dig deep underneath chasms of pain beneath boulders of the past forgiveness is within reach I have your eyes (like almonds) your nose that slopes the brown skin the full mouth like a pout We are connected. |