If my son is a criminal
Then I am a criminal
But if my son committed a crime
Then my hands are as good as any to clean the blood from his feet
If my mother was a drunk
Then I am a drunk
But if my mother loved to drink
Then my journey is to be drink deeply without wilting my blood
If my father was an abuser
Then I am an abuser
But if my father carved love through gaps between scars
Then my genes know to oil my wounds without salt first
If my lover was a psychotic
Then I am psychotic
But if my lover’s mouth hadn’t language without spectacles and metaphors
Then my tongue seeks quiet gratitude in just this here and now
May 15, 2026
arden briar smith