your hands outstretched
concrete
hooded
mother
where is your face
distorted with rage
a knife to my neck
my head forced down in the tub
is there not once that you held me
other than mock murder
I remember
only wire monkeys
poised paralyzed in stone
defenseless as statues
Mother Church praises motherhood
so I will call you Mary
in that name there is no pain
but the loss of a son