i wonder to this day -

was it a power thing?

'cause that's sure how it felt

sitting small in my chair

trying to curl in on myself

hoping to dissolve into nothingness

like the salt in my tears

truth be told i don't

even remember what this was

all about, but all i can remember

is being very scared that you

would not stop shouting, that you

would start hitting, and worst

you would mark me down as

one of the "bad kids"

and for the rest of my

second grade year,

i never quite trusted your

check marks, your "good job"s,

your short smiles - all i

remembered was being

six (almost seven!) and weathering

your furious hurricane of words