Like Mother Like Daughter
Why did I not want to grow up to be her?
She who formed my world.
She whose body housed me,
and whose arms raised me.
How could I know her a lifetime
and still not know her?
Mother, tell me,
why am I afraid to submit?
Why am I chasing a road
so opposite from yours?
Mother, tell me our history.
Hold my hand
and walk me down our line.
The line that leads down a path
of broken hearts
and shattered homes.
Diaries of “I’ll never be good enough”
and tears shed only in dark rooms.
Mother, tell me,
what are they hiding?
Are they happy?
Is it an illusion?
Mother hold my hand
and use your other to open their mouths.
Pull out the truth that’s lying
between their teeth
Help me understand
why I should let the cycle end.
Remove the screen
and let their stories beam
through the opaque, window.
Mother, teach me why you chose your path
so that I can follow.
Mother is there a lock on my heart?
Did I lose the key?
At what age will it open
and give itself away to one
it loves with all its self?
Give me your wisdom.
Help me gain your strength.
Help me be like the women in our line-
resilient;
but let me speak.
Let me move my heart
from my chest to my sleeve.
Let the truths in every story be passed down
so we remember and so we never forget.
Mother, teach me forgiveness.
Teach me to love with no conditions.
Teach me to be like you.
Mother.
Why did I not want to grow up to be her?
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