Waltzing in Four-Four Time

Dear Mother,
Do I make you proud or are you teaching me a lesson in sacrifice?
Do you criticize me to make sure I don’t take self-worth for granted?
Do you shake me from my dreams to safeguard me from the burden of them coming true?
Do you recoil at my touch because to love me would be to love yourself?

Dear Father,
Do you insult my innocence to create my resilience?
Do your screams build protective fortresses around my future mistakes?
Do you see yourself in the shape of my bruised, quivering chin?
Do you call me your beloved Rapunzel when you drag me by my hair?

Dear Brother,
Do resent me for being younger, making you the target of more pain?
Do you become jealous when I out run you, further and faster?
Do you think I am selfish for learning to be alone?
Do you pour drink after drink searching for the Fountain of Youth?

Dear Girl,
Do you write for expression or a false sense of external validation?
Do you call yourself damaged for the party trick of bequeathing yourself a personality?
Do you formulate arrogance to camouflage an inner world full of self-pity?
Do you embalm your heart so that it can last forever?

Emma is a former (and sometimes) Democratic political operative. When not on a campaign, Emma is focused on writing timely pieces on culture, punk music, and spooky run-ins. After writing hours, Emma can be found mouthing off, watching baseball, and reading Stephen King. Emma is currently located in an antelope laden field in Wyoming.