Afraid (A Mother’s Day #poem)

Mommy crying every day
Helplessly, I turn away
When will she stop the tears she sheds?
When will she laugh sleeping in bed?
Words form in my head as I pray
I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid

The coffee is hot when it spills on my head
Taking baby steps to darkness ahead
Screaming for mommy for help I plea
Strange man’s hands hold while she photographs me
Words form in my head as I pray
I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid

Taunting my cousin about his mother
Married so many times, you without a father
Your mother’s no better, he says as he smiles
He’s not your father, Sherry is his child
Words form in my head as I pray
I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid

Trapped in the hallway in my pajamas
Later wishing I’d had a camera
Left alone with a man that I trust
Freezing in place, running in disgust
Words form in my head as I pray
I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid

When life throws me curve balls, I’m sorry to say
These memories haunt me, I long to run away
The triggers are real, this I cannot deny
Frozen in place, unable to cry
Words form in my head as I pray
I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid