Childhood comes for a visit

I
She sits in front of me and says
do you remember that one time you came to my house
looking like a zebra? how they called child services at school?
that one time you had a long mark on your back?
how she would scream everyday
yaaaaaakaaari, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakaaaari
what are you doing? come home now!
(yes I do, I remember everything)

II
I made it out alive
on the first flight, I left happy, happy
there was joy everyday, kids in class asked how
I was so happy early in the morning. I say I just drink good coffee. I go back December and find myself filled with resentment.

III
I am about 10 and she hits me again
this time, the metal gets under my skin
I cry and I cry, that same night she curls up beside me
she says she is sorry she hit me so hard.
I love you, I love you, you are my world,
you are my queen, you are my everything
you just make me mad sometimes

IV
her feet hurt. she tells me she is no longer used to
standing on her feet for eight hours. cutting fruits for hours with her bare hands. she tells me about the Haitian and Colombian ladies that work where she does
they are so tired, so tired. they are so old and so beaten.
they work like slaves. her eyes fill with water. I don't want to be so old working so hard, she says.
I say don't worry, I'll make sure you won't have to
I'll take care of you.