she slaps you- hard
right across your mouth
she put you into this world, she says
she’ll take you right back out.
and you aren’t quite sure, really, what it is you’ve done wrong
did you mumble? forget a chore?
you think about asking but there’s this look in her eyes
so you bite back your tongue
you chew and gnaw until copper fills your mouth
and as you smile as her, blood drips out
“you’re a demon!” she screams in your left ear
“you’re the devil’s child!”
you try not to flinch, to let her see you’re hurt
after all, if you are the devil’s child
what does that make her?