Fallout (Crank 3)
I came a little alive too.
ALL THAT TALKING
Seemed to wear him right
out. He settled back down
in bed. Boulder dropped
into sleep. Guess clearing
his conscience tuckered
him out. I, on the other hand,
had no such reaction to
all that confession. Strange
voices bypassed my ears,
whispering straight into
my brain. Dead inside …
hating her … a little alive.
I remembered something.
It seemed a memory buried
deep in toddlerhood.
Mommy? Daddy? Glimpses
of slat-shadowed faces,
screwed up in rage. Screaming.
I hate you. Door slamming.
Pillow over my head against
the noise. Scrambling for breath.
MY HEART STUTTERED
With sudden clarity.
I’m not crazy.
The relentless feeling
of panic started there.
In my parents’
love-fueled hatred