Inherited Delusion

Inherited delusion,

Children mindlessly duking it out in front of me.

Parent's delusion animating a circular conversation....

spoken with tears and fists.

 

What an ugly fight,

But somewhere there is light

And maybe there is fertile soil

Surviving all that dark oil.

 

The father lost his fight.

He wandered away in defeat

and sleeps in an unmarked grave.

 

The Mother lost her fight.

She drowned her pain in poppy oil and alcohol

and now she sleeps alone.

 

But their ghosts possess their children in the night!

 

Somewhere there is light

Some kind of flower is growing in the night.

Ready to warm the day.

 

Who would think that you can beat someone you love?

Or label them with poison and save them?

But a person possessed?

 

Monkey see, monkey say,

our children do what they saw their parents play

And these sad children are acting that way.

Echoing parents, grandparents, present and ancient wars.

And a sad reenactment of hate.

 

Break that spell

Let's talk about our feelings

Without ever saying an unkind word

Or touching without permission.

Let's do what our parents couldn't do

And help these ghosts step into the light.

 

Christopher H. Holte, 8/16/2016