My Family

 
love was as rare as a bug  
planting flowers  
or painting walls  
 
words were spoken  
for truth and care  
never endearments  
 
dad stressed his commands  
with his fists  
and feet  
 
mom kept quiet  
until her kids were hit  
then she screamed a blue fit  
 
my brothers played outside  
till dusk  
they got beaten  
 
i stole a banana  
and was beaten
to nothingness  
 
grown we are now  
and gone they are  
to the netherworld  
 
but we will always remember  
our family...of mom and dad  
and nine kids  
 
and how we grew up  
on the straight and narrow  
with dad's guiding fists.