Heirlooms in a Broken Family

Dripping poison,

Those little words,

Snarled,

Under the breath,

Then pushed out

With the stomach.

You passed on your mother’s china

To me, the first grandson to marry,

But you wanted to keep a teapot.

My wife wanted the entire set,

So, I said no.

That’s when you got nasty.

I don’t care what you do, you said.

Just sell it!

I had no intention of selling it.

Now that we’ve had it for a while,

We think we’ll pass it on

To your grandchildren.

Isn’t that what you would want?

Communion

Sacrifice justice mercy love tribal watch out for

Those who are like you but even more for those

Who are different pluralism diversity freedom

Encouragement communion fellowship blood

And body bread and wine do this as you will

Don’t Wake the Sleeping Giant

Don’t remember much,

From those years.

In the house,

But not a home.

Walking on eggshells,

So as not to wake

The sleeping giant.

Saying the wrong thing

Could instill rage

Overflowing like lava

From a volcano.

But it wasn’t my fault.

I wasn’t taught

How to avoid conflict,

And, really,

I shouldn’t have to.

I just wanted

Something to eat, or,

Someone to talk to.

Was that too much to ask?