other mothers, other fathers
By Jenny Zhang
decisions that happened even before
the womb
my one ancestor who left by choice
and the one who was made to
when i bleed it is they who speak
no one is getting off the hook tonight
anything forced underground to save face
warps the faces we end up inheriting
as i age i begin to love the bugs at twilight
i have blood and they need it to survive
it’s not that i needed a perfect mother
“take responsibility for your personality flaws”
they said
and yes i am trying
to forgive
all instances of abandonment
my father moved his face and i felt it instantly
the endless search
for other fathers, other mothers
and here up on this hill
i see them
