T I M E B O M B

By Amaya Esparza

the words across your knuckles.

tik, tik, tik, tik, tik

BOOM

You’ve always had an anger

that made the bravest souls

cringe and cower.

You knew this

and yet you

would dare

turn that anger

towards me – the

person you claimed to love the most?

But that’s a stupid question, isn’t it?

You knew that anger would

keep me in my place.

Ever the obedient daughter

I had to be or else I was next.

the words across your knuckles.

tik, tik, tik, tik, tik

BOOM

But even the obedience couldn’t

keep me safe from the

TIME BOMB.

The first time I felt the words across

your knuckles was at fourteen.

You wanted to shut me up

because how dare I cry,

because how dare I let

the rest of the house

know you’re making

me cry, cry,

cry.

TIME BOMB

hit my head,

spinning room.

The second time I felt the words across

your knuckles was at seventeen.

You wanted to shut me up

because how dare I cry,

because how dare I have

feelings as you called me

a stupid, stupid bitch.

TIME BOMB

hit my nose,

blood everywhere.

the words across your knuckles.

tik, tik, tik, tik, tik

BOOM

By Amaya Esparza