Of course I listened to my mom at first;
I spent that time with her, and I was young.
But over years I found she was the worst
conveyor of emotions given tongue.
She harmless seemed, but her pathology
was never given voice or even air.
She tried to cut the passion out of me.
She flirted so I saw no person there.

And it should not have come as a surprise
to hear an older cousin not adore
our common grandma (as Mom sadly must).
Another cousin tells how otherwise
my father’s mother was than what before
I heard from Mom, too hurt-beset to trust.