(Author’s Note: This short poem refers to a couple of similar childhood events and my thoughts at the time. It is about daddy-Monster's temper and the effect it had on one of my brothers and the rest of us.)
I am eight or nine years old;
my reckless brother is one year younger:
Hello daddy-Monster.
You scare us.
You’re angry at your wife’s cooking
so you explode
and throw your plate of spaghetti.
Pasta and sauce
drip
drip
drip
down the wall.
My reckless brother learns from you.
Several months later,
he throws his plate of spaghetti.
Once again, pasta and sauce
drip
drip
drip
down the wall.
Hello daddy-Monster.
We are still children.
Do you see us?
How can I be the only one with adult vision?
Do you not know what you’re teaching?
Do you not see that your temper is contagious?
Your reckless son and the rest of us are learning from you.
Do you understand that everyone is on edge because of you?
Do you really want your children to become like you?
You set the tone for the home environment.
Do you care?
– Healing Heart Warrior (Tom M.)
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