leaving Baton Rouge .. it was quite a sight
snakes .. wildlife from the Gulf .. everywhere
barely daylight, gray rainy skies .. alligators biting car tires
we left half of our belongings .. escaped the tragedy
I assure you we won't be going back anytime soon
headed to high ground .. two hundred miles north
ended up in a small, country hick town .. West Monroe
rented a three bedroom house near the Ouachita River
mom found a boyfriend .. Arlis left her and us
the boyfriend was an alcoholic .. evil began
Billy Ray was a lumberjack .. drank all the time
everything seemed cool at first .. all quickly changed
a three bedroom house .. six adults .. twelve children
everyone slept wherever they could .. I chose the coffee table
Billy Ray had six kids .. mom had six
early morning .. I was standing outside
mom and Billy Ray were drunk .. argued all night
she tried to go in the house to cook breakfast
he swung .. broke her nose .. swung again
broke her jaw .. blood and teeth flew against the house
snatched her fingers .. broke some of them
then twisted .. broke her arm in seven places
I watched in horror the entire time
totally in shock .. I was nine .. dying
enraged inside .. if I could've only found a gun
I would've shot .. killed him dead
the neighbor lady had her pistol locked away
an ambulance came .. picked mom up
quickly to the hospital she went
paramedics refused to let me ride with her
times I was able to sleep
I dreamed .. over and over
about killing him for what he did
even though mom and I weren't very close
she's still .. always my mother
Copyright @ July 2014
StandingBear