My howling heart
drives me home.
The walls of my car
shocked into silence
by the wailing.

Failing to hide my
cheeks awash with
the fear that she will
swallow me whole,
spit out my soul,
stamp out my flame.

Ashamed, I feel
trapped by my rage.
Compassion has flown
out the window with Love
and I cannot cage
self pity
self loathing
self doubt.

What if I can
never love her
as a daughter should,
a daughter could,
a daughter would,
if she only understood.

If only I understood.