the offspring
of borderline mothers
are at high risk
for psychopathology
the anger
my codependent mishaps
were handed down
in my blood
the white woman
who couldn't
teach me
to care for
my tight curly hair
teach me
emotional
regulation
teach me
how the racism
in our town
wasn't
acceptable
teach me
to walk away
from men
who raise
their fists
at women
and girls
to prove
their point
to establish a
egomaniacal sense
of control
and
superiority
teach me
how to set
boundaries
teach me
to love
myself
teach me to love
the black skin
i'm in
teach me
black american
history
she made me
this way
and it's impossible
to resist expressing
my resentment towards her
whether expression
is released
in person
on the phone
or
in my journal
she demolished my life
before i had
the opportunity
to break out
of the walls
of the abusive household
where i gnawed my leg
like a dog
before i had
a mere chance
to live and love