She felt ashamed
at her mother
outrageousness
when she danced
on the table top.
when she saw
her father,
drunk
crawling around
on his hands and
knees.she felt
afraid
and never took a
chance. found
safety in an early
marriage and hung
on for dear life.
Dear, dear life.

stayed little,
stayed young,
never taking herself
seriously.
she was an artist
who painted her
kitchen walls
who couldn’t act
until she came up
with the theme.
Something arrested
that tried to flower
when she fell in love
with her son’s friend.
looking, not for a
second chance, but
a first one.