He sat in the grass
beside my drive way
and pulled me apart like petals
from a flower,
uprooting small pieces
of the Earth
from its home
as a means of entertainment
and spreading it, carelessly
over the scolding pavement

I stared into the sun
as he spoke because I knew
he would eventually say,
"look at me"
and I'd rather see bright
colored polka dots
than his satisfied face
when I turned my head
in his direction