I will teach you

I will teach you gentle
in the way your father cant
in the way his father couldnt
in the way it was both of their jobs
to at least try

generational trauma
isnt simply
passed
down
it’s multiplied

you are carrying the weight
never meant for grown man bones
never meant
to be housed in this little boys home

scream prison
scream until those doors are welded shut
till it passes
till it feels safe to call

sweet boy
when you say
they treat you like you’re nothing
how do I scream you are everything
but gently
how do I save you
if you’re not mine?

how do I scream system
when the system
is worse than
the home that you call prison?

when rough housing
is another word for abuse?
when fear
is the only way
they think you’ll listen?

Mandatory reporting
means I’ll keep your pain within my chest
means I’ll lace it in metaphor
and have everyone guess.

I’ll dedicate it to your name
but quietly
do my best to stay involved
to keep you safe
to let you know
it doesn’t need to be this way.

And you’ll tell me you understand
ask me
if we can end the conversation.

So we sleep quietly
and you breathe gently.

And this is only the start.

I’ll fight for you
burn the house down
till you see your fire
till you see you are light