pluto | poetry ✓

sympathy

mom doesn't feed me sympathy
in sippy cups anymore

"get ready let's go"
she says now with
a hint of indifference
as if she cannot see the tears
streaming down my cheeks
and the sobs caged in my bones

is it trying to heal a child?

or ignoring their pain?

water gushing from an
unknown place now on
my face trying to wash
the pain away but as you
must know by now

it never works

and tonight i'll drink my regrets
with a shot of espresso and
two cups of cream swirled

guilt will come along
and we'll have a ball
talking about what
could've been done better
until the night is gone

he'll tuck me in bed
and kiss my forehead
reminding me he'll see me tomorrow

same time,
same place

my mom doesn't wake me up
in the early, young mornings
but stress always shakes me awake
reminding me of homework and tests

so much,
so little
time

while i'm waiting for the bus
anxiety thinks it's time to say hello
"what if the bus doesn't show up?"

and then my body responds

heart pounding
sweat dripping
breaths quicker

then the bus rolls up
i step on like normal
and he finally goes away

i get to school like every day
and stress and anxiety
come back out to play

and when i get home
they dwindle in my wake unhurt

mom doesn't feed me sympathy
from ugly sippy cups anymore
because she's seen life as it is

and now i see it too