The
poem can start with him walking backwards into a room.
He
takes off his jacket and sits down for the rest of his life;
that's
how we bring Dad back.
I
can make the blood run back up my nose, ants rushing into a hole.
We
grow into smaller bodies, my breasts disappear,
your
cheeks soften, teeth sink back into gums.
I
can make us loved, just say the word.
Give
them stumps for hands if even once they touched us without consent,
I
can write the poem and make it disappear.
Step-Dad
spits liquor back into glass,
Mum's
body rolls back up the stairs, the bone pops back into place,
maybe
she keeps the baby.
Maybe
we're okay kid?
I'll
rewrite this whole life and this time there'll be so much love,
you
won't be able to see beyond it.
You
won't be able to see beyond it,
I'll
rewrite this whole life and this time there'll be so much love.
Maybe
we're okay kid,
maybe
she keeps the baby.
Mum's
body rolls back up the stairs, the bone pops back into place,
Step-Dad
spits liquor back into glass.
I
can write the poem and make it disappear,
give
them stumps for hands if even once they touched us without consent,
I
can make us loved, just say the word.
Your
cheeks soften, teeth sink back into gums
we
grow into smaller bodies, my breasts disappear.
I
can make the blood run back up my nose, ants rushing into a hole,
that's
how we bring Dad back.
He
takes off his jacket and sits down for the rest of his life.
The
poem can start with him walking backwards into a room.