"Blest Be the Tie that Binds"
She steps, maelstrom surrounded,
infant at breast, quietly taking milk,
head of daughter at her hip, one arm encircling Mama's leg
another reaching into unknown whorls.
Mama clutches in free right hand many overdue bills
eyes fixed ahead, driven, consumed.
Father follows, resentful,
remote control in hand, relaxed
absorbed in the news, waiting for his
supper to fall out of her hands
as it fell from his mother's.
God forbid. She is lucky to have him
at all. She does not feel
lucky. She does not think.
The maelstrom reddens, thickens. She stifles a scream
in her fright, final, surfaced, total.
She falters and turns
to face him. He has no strength to hold, to give ... no eyes. He blames.
He beats.
Daughter lets go to stand alone, deaf, mute.
They stumble, divided.
The maelstrom rages, unaware.
God forbid; Grace provided.
Trickle down a culture, family, strong,
united.
©1985
Aurora, Agnes Scott College
Amy Jackson