Words My Mama Never Said
When I think of him
I don’t think of whiskey
or the steady beat
of up-drink-down-pour.
All I think of is our heart beats
thumping along together
and wishing he’d stop asking me
if I wanted more.
When I think of him
I don’t think of beer
or the steady beat
of up-drink-down-pour
or the cans piled high
in the back-yard recycling.
I don’t think of slurred words
or him sloppy, falling to the floor.
When I think of him
I don’t think of scotch
or the steady beat
of up-drink down pour.
I think of you growing
inside me. And his laughter,
not the unfulfilled promises
or the lies he swore.
When I think of your daddy
I don’t think of the years
you’d be disappointed
and alone or the ways
he’d hurt your soul.
Now all that echoes in my ears
is up-drink-down-pour.