Lies

 

 

the world you lived in as a child

was small enough for small beliefs

the healing power of ice cream

miracles that mended toys

and a mother whose hands could wipe away

tear stained pain

 

but I cannot mend

this man

your father

 

no promises

no medicine

no magic

will make him breathe again

 

you are taller than me now

a soldier

I struggle to hold you

as grief weighs you to the floor

 

I drop with you

rock with you

drown in the flood force

of your tears

 

say all the things

I know I’m supposed to say

because I don’t know what to say

 

my words are a useless noise

and I wonder why I lied to you

when your world was mine to mould

why I made you believe

that love could mend all things