I look into her eyes;
they're blood shot...
I can tell that she is mad.
Her face is red; her eyes are small.
She turns her attention from me
to her other daughters, my sisters.
They have fear in their eyes.
You can tell that our mother is scaring them.
They look at me;
They try to figure this all out.
Finally, I say, "Knock this off...
You're scaring me, and them."
"I don't care..."
She snickered back.
I hear my little sister speak softly,
"What's wrong with mom?"
What do I say back?...
How do I tell her that mom is mad
--At me--, for something I have done?
but what?...I don't know.
"Hon, mom is just mad...
Things will be okay tomorrow."
I see her fear lighten in her eyes.
She knows that I am just trying to comfort her.
"Come here and give me a hug!"
I say with a fake smile on my face.
Her skin is soft and cold.
We say good night to each other,
And she goes off to bed.
I turn my attention back to my mom;
Now she's ever more angered with me.
"Mom what have I done,
to make you mad this time?"
My mom looks at me,
And I at her.
Her eyes are cold.
I can tell she's going to do something.
She raises her hang.
You Know what she's doing.
Just stand here and take it.
It will all pass soon.
I close my eyes and await her hit...
For just a split second,
I feel her warm hang against my face.
In just a few moments,
I taste the salty blood...
I turn away trying to forgive my mom,
For what she had just done.
She's just mad; things will all be okay...
Things will be fine tomorrow.
Soon I realize that is what I told my sister.
"Things will be fine."
But look, things are not fine.
I went to sleep with an ache in my heart.
Just forgive her, this won't happen again.
I lay in bed, trying to sleep...
Soon I feel a warm tear;
It streams down my cheek.
Some how I know that I am not alone,
And that there is someone out there,
That feels the same way that I do.
God, please help my family,
be more like a family....
Please, God, Help my mom,
So that she's not so mad....
Oh!...and God, good-night!
I shut my eyes, and slowly drift to sleep.
I awaken to a new day,
And hold only the memory of the night before.
