Sister, Stranger, Mother

Beautiful mother,

You're sitting alone with eyes straight ahead

Facing your judgement

Decided by the man in front of you

Brought down by the man to your left

While the people at your back

Look on with ferocious attention

I see your ankles crossed demurely

Your neutral, taupe slacks

The collared shirt you wear is tasteful

You hair in a bun at your nape,

Even your hair must be primly contained

You did it, sweet momma,

You're attractive, without being sexy

I see your white knuckles

I know what they mean

You're gripping that ballpoint pen

Like a life preserver

For you, maybe it is

You got the look, baby, you're on point

Only your fingernails give you away

I can see they've been chewed

Down to the quick

Your nails are cracked, peeling stubs

Allegations are thrown like confetti

Accusations thrown like grenades

The man to your left is calm and cool

And collected

He's firing missiles like he's the USS Missouri

I see you catch those missiles one by one

You're juggling like it's your job

While the man in front of you condemns

While the people behind look on

That smooth demeanor exploits

He's broken no laws, followed all the orders

He attends church every Sunday!

With quiet conviction

He presents himself safe

He presents himself trustworthy

"Concern" & "well being" are words he twists

He's read the book, he knows the right phrases

His manipulations are gross and untrue

But you stutter when you try to explain

You shake and tremble, you've been triggered

He attacks you in open court

with his most powerful weapon

with your children

And you cry and shake and quake

And lose

I see the moment your poise is snapped

The leash barely holding your emotions

pulled taut, you're trying to rein on in

I feel you, Momma, I see the tenuous hold

And the man in front of you judges on

While the man to your left keeps on firing

And the people behind you are witnesses

To the death of your soul

Look only at me, lovely Mother

The self righteous have marked you unworthy

In my eyes, there is no damnation

In my eyes, you'll find commiseration

I know how you feel

How it hurts

How it burns

How it slices & dices & kills you

Hold your head up high

Give these bitches nothing to say

When the news spreads like fire

You lost custody of your babies

It's a cruel, unfair world

Mothers are held to a higher standard

Women are held to a stricter moral code

I know all about it, Momma don't cry

Don't reinforce the claims of your crazy

Go on home now, little Momma

Curl up in a corner and lick your wounds

Cry and rage and scream and break shit

Try not to kill yourself

Even though it would be such relief

Then tomorrow,

the sunrise brings a new day

A new start, a fresh chance

Time to begin prepping

For the next battle.

You're not alone, little Momma

There's more of us than I ever dreamed

Battered by our husbands

Alienated from our children

Family court kicks us

Again and again

You're brave, Momma, you're strong

You fall down during every round

You're up to round 112

But when that bell rings,

You're coming in hot

Momma, you're coming in swinging

I see it,

I know it

I feel you,

I am you

I'm on round 209.

Today, I'm also coming out swinging.

Thank you sweet Momma

For regarding me with empathy

With compassion, with mercy

When it's my turn to be judged

When my fate is decided for me

You must've seen the way that I tremble

You're a stranger, but I know your story

You're my sister, not of blood but trauma

You're a mother,

no manipulation can ever change that

I see you Momma,

you're no longer alone