When  I was a child
I dreamt of what it would be
To have a perfect family
My daydreaming was long,
But your patience was short
A fuse
Burning too close
For comfort.

In my day sleep,
I would imagine a mother
No younger than 34
Her dark brown eyes were soft
And caring
Never icy,
But feeling
And they could get hot
Burning
But never cold
Or isolating

I was her son
No older than eight
I played with legos on the grey carpet
Of our new apartment
It smelled new
Because it was

Because, she had worked hard to get here
And fought hard to stay
And loved me enough
To want to keep us together

A perfect family
Worries about the rent
But never wonders
If there is love there

A perfect mother
Doesn't have to always be there
When she's working the night shift
Or be happy
When she's drowning in stress
But she does have to be
Healthy
She needs to be
Present

Even when I didn't get any on Christmas
I wasn't unhappy
I just understood and felt
Her love for me...

A perfect family
Doesn't have to be
Nuclear
Just clear
On what family is