Dad had come home today, night like always
Yelled like always, looked upset like always, never smiled
Looked at him with those eyes and he stared back, forgetting to bow his head like always
Always forget
Dad yelled, "Why are you looking at me like that?
Why don't you smile?
Why can't you smile?
Why can't you be like your brother?
Why can't you smile like him?"
And it hurt,
his back hurt, his arms hurt, his sides hurt, his stomach hurt
his legs hurt, his knees hurt
he couldn't breathe, his lungs were on fire
and dad yelled and was angry
he cried and was scared
"I'm sorry,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry,
I wouldn't do that again
So please stop,
I'm sorry"
What wouldn't he do?
He had done something wrong, he knew
But he didn't know what
He tried to smile but his face hurt
He wasn't good enough, he knew
Everyone told him that
At school, at the neighbor, at his house
But he would still try.
Dad left to his room
Today he failed to smile, and he forgot to bow his head, forgot to avoid dad's gaze (it was disrespectful)
But maybe tomorrow he would be able to
And maybe it wouldn't hurt anymore.