details: a pantoum

they reach around dishes to hold hands and
speak as if the right one is listening.
the son keeps his eyes open,
he has nothing to ask for.

speak as if the right one is listening—
hear the silence of fear.
he has nothing to ask for,
and she is too young to know what the hands in hers are capable of.

hear the silence of fear,
it is borrowed from the good book.
she is too young to know what the hands in hers are capable of,
they build churches and break bones.

it is borrowed from the good book:
she should wear dresses,
build churches, and break bones.
this is the family way.

she should wear dresses,
the son keeps his eyes open,
this is the family way…
they reach around dishes to hold hands.

there’s blood on the stairs.
it stains her first bright then dark red.
mother can’t watch father when hands make fists,
beat salvation into children.

it stains her first bright then dark red,
it is borrowed from the good book,
beat salvation into children.
only this is love.

it is borrowed from the good book,
father lowers his head,
only this is love,
the rest is out of his hands.

father lowers his head.
there is no room for pride in this family,
the rest is out of his hands.
they sit in anticipation.

there is no room for pride in this family.
mother can’t watch father when hands make fists.
they sit in anticipation.
there is blood on the stairs.