Because we don’t want to see our mothers
for who they really are
or how far they have stretched
knowing they could never go back
Because we carry the weight
of their secrets they were forced to
wrap around hips, shoulders and backs
wrapped tightly hugged against breasts
babies for whom no one would claim
responsibility for or likeness to
Because we left a legacy of
girl too fast becoming womanchild
while underneath her skirt
still burns the fire of innocent intoxication
Because our fathers had the luxury
of sleeping on their stomachs
being ambiguous or unknown
while we waited, tenderfooted and swollen
to be unnamed
