Broken promises

Promise me your hands will reach out Resilient attachment starts in childhood When the brain has colic outside the womb A mother’s unconditional love soothes worries When a birthday missed slices the cord Like two neurons missing a connection Like a power line cut sparking wildly Broken wires can’t be mended by tape Not like broken bones knitted by mitosis Neurons grow old unable to divide When a childhood is interrupted Axons miss their forlorn dendrites A childhood interrupted skips a score Add twenty years to a worrying child Poor attachment is a forever handicap The best we can do is read lips like the deaf No one can heal a drum torn by parents When attachment fails to meet expectations The best I can do is take a detour to you Remind me addictions are poor parents Their embrace won’t last the night like you Addictions arise when attachment fails They lie, no one will love you like them They are fickle friends when parents fail I’m the axon looking for my dendrite I’m the mouth reaching for the pacifier I'll show up for my birthday I must hold cut wires with both hands Be the expecting wine looking for a glass Resilient attachment takes a detour Take the long way home Promise me I'll be there for me