What Women Want                                                                                                                                                                                   Abbie Mazour

 

The louder

my father shouted

the quieter

my mother became

 

the closer

I clung

 

to the boy

who’s gilded tongue

whispered

I love you

 

but meant

I am just

like your father

 

while he raped me

because

 

he said

I wanted it.

 

***

The closer

I clung

to I love you

 

the quieter

my mother became

 

the louder

our silence

shouted.

 

I wonder

what she clings to.