it has been said that I am just like my
father this might explain why most days
I dress up in my mother’s clothes use
her signature shade of scarlet to paint
my lips a familiar smile I do not use
her signature trick of turning her heart
inside out the way she showed me to use
her softness as bulletproof vest Armour
is for women who have something to lose
and in this way I am NOT like my mother
the inside of my heart is covered in
stucco scales
my father has a crocodile smile a
flawless flash of shiny distraction to
keep you from finding the bodies he’s
left behind but if you look close enough
the evidence lies in the residue between
his teeth I have been told my tongue
should come with a warning of blunt
force trauma and it’s true there are
nights I wear nothing but a
blood-stained smirk to veil my secrets
nights my smile is the simple act of
baring my teeth I am just like my father
but if it weren’t for my mother I would
not know how to take responsibility for
the bite I bear when I wear the
crocodile smile because there are nights
I cannot help myself when the full moon
Howl’s I howl back I am the daughter of
nature vs. nurture each verse for my
father is actually a love letter to my
mother my mother the sparrow my mother
the nest my mother the branches my
mother the leaves my mother the tree who
cut and whittled herself to build me
about offering safe passage my eyes
watch our slow sailing reflection in the
water and in its stillness it’s almost
impossible to tell if the tiny yellow
lights scattered across its surface are
mirrored stars or crocodile eyes but my
basic instincts are well acquainted with
the sensation of nature’s gaze fixated
on me when my father tells me I am
beautiful and I always hope it’s because
I remind him of my mother thank you
—
It’s never too early to start talking about Father’s Day on The Good Men Project. We’re looking for sponsors and contributors for our #ModernDayDad campaign. https://t.co/WJvKqq2kTe pic.twitter.com/j66LNCY0VG
— The Good Men Project (@GoodMenProject) March 11, 2019
—
We celebrate Gay Pride all year long. But this year, we’re doing some special programing for a large-scale campaign #LoveEqually. We’re looking for both sponsors and contributors. Check it out! https://t.co/tkraXFPxLL pic.twitter.com/X2FlBEZb8Y
— The Good Men Project (@GoodMenProject) March 11, 2019
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