Broken Bloodline

When parental figures disappoint,

living for themselves;

forget they bring children

to bear witness to selves.

Young eyes screen the fury they project

through shadows dancing on white,

imprinting mental images to replay again

and again,

when it’s their turn to live.

They grow up holding on to burdens left for them.

They carry the rage of that voiceless fury they were forced

to internalize,

failing to recognize

the destruction it does to self

and the bloodline they choose to continue.

Without healing the broken connection,

healing the damaged heart,

healing the sprained bonds

that (his)tory and (her)story inflicted.

Bloodlines bleed out.

Killing a family.