One
Wrinkled eyebrows merge
quick, loud words yelling
to stop
to listen
to behave.
Exasperated
weary eyes sometimes glisten
smiling at times when a soft silence fills the house
the house no longer a war zone,
peace and relief surrounds us.
Mother sighs
Two
large smile creeps across his face
wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.
Energy fills up the room
reaching the sky.
Tapping of feet
drumming of fingers
bobbing his head
music blasting like roaring thunder during a storm.
Until dark rings surround dark eyes
the room becomes empty
the laughter fades
replaced by sorrow deep as the sea.
Father cries
Three
Cheeks stained with tears and dirt
rude remarks
“I hate you” he yells out
as if he’s throwing knives.
Too young inside to behave
too old outside to appear this way.
Screaming turns to
silence
and on his own he becomes
soft
subdued
still.
A childlike smile fills his chubby face.
Brother laughs
I am of them. I am their family.
Daughter and sister.
Anger rising as tension grows like boiling water
flowing over the top of a hot burning pot.
Tired eyes pleading for recognition
pleading for help.
Living with the inability to breathe as the thoughts racing through your mind drag you down.
Living with feelings so heavy
like weights piling up until you break.
Living where the sun shines bright like the beautiful sunrise
and where the clouds mask the stunning light, leaving nothing but grey.
Finding the light
laughing to brighten the mood.
Smiles, forming wrinkles near our eyes as laughter echoes.
We’re all
sighing
crying
laughing,
trying to get by.
