Southern hospitality

southern hospitality
never stuck with me
because of what was behind it

insanity of the soul

get pulled over
for an open container
after church Sunday

show off your goods
to two young innocent souls
and nobody saw any red flags then?

We did

show off your weapons
after mom steps out

show off your anger
and ignorance

with your violence

belting the couch
as an example

because you fear the weak

and it's justified
to you

enough for you to attempt to

wriggle
sneak
manipulate

into my space
into my head

when there's no room left in here

...and then comes grandma...

in the midst of all my mental anguish
through limbo and the promise of a new life
a new today
through the pain that time can bring
when lovers drift apart

here comes grandma...

with her perfect cookies
and southern charm
with baited trips of guilt

in apparent oblivion
of the damage done
of children threatened
and abused
of houses burned to the ground
out of fearful indignation

now she brought two more with her
two more fucked up people
that came from her
in the first place
to fuck us up
to break our hearts
ruin our lives
tarnish our souls

and she wants us all to have lunch
with nothing up her sleeve
but to drag them around ....

and be proud to carry them?

how can I?
how could I?

i would be a traitor to myself

thanks grandma, but no thanks