Things Will Get Better

I feel great
I feel stable
I feel alone in my ways
I can feel the anger filling the room
as He walks down the steps
I hear His voice before he speaks
I feel the helplessness before he comes
I hear my door open before he opens it
I see him in front of me before he's present
I hear his sharp voice, "things will get better"
the words he spoke to me before the beginning of time
The wors of love filled with hate
I stand there with a blanked look
Trying to stand perfectly, trying not to cause
even more hatred. Trying not to look challenging.
But yet even my presence ius challenging to him.
I take off my hat, I stand limp, I take off my fake smile,
I take off my shoes to make myself small;
I find myself looking like the helpless boy I try not to be.
But yet his hatred is no chalenge for my helplessness.
I realize I made a mistake somewhere in my perfection
in his eyes. For yes there's a wrinkle in the sheets of my bed,
yes there's a crumb on my lip, I didn't put the
toilet seat down, I folded his clothes
wrong, I ate too much. I look into
the eyes of my ruler and realize I
did everything right in all the wrong
ways. For I did wash the car, I did
clean his room, I did do the laundry
I did do the dishes, I did rake the leaves
and all I did perfect, but that doesn't matter
as his words run in a blur.
I want to hide but I can't because I'm exposed
I want to run but I may hit a wall and fall.
I feel his power overcome me.
I feel nothing as I fall to the ground.
I knew this would happen before he came.
I knew it would happen when I laughed
as I put the toilet set up, and wet the floor
I see now that things will
get better.

ROBBY MONTGOMERY
10th Grade, YES High School
Santa Cruz, CA
Kim Nelsonn, Poet-Teacher

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