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  Raud Kennedy
   
     
  • Mother

     

    At dinner

    at her daughter’s house,

    she forces a smile,

    but her darting eyes

    give her away.

    Her skin is screaming,

    her eyes itching.

    With a hot flash

    of adrenaline,

    the leading trail of detox

    washes over her.

    She needs her wine,

    but she can’t drink

    around her ex-husband.

    He told her

    they were both alcoholics,

    and now she must feign

    she’s not.

    But it’s beyond that.

    Everyone sees the nerve

    damage,

    the awkward walking,

    the poor balance, drunk or sober.

    She avoids

    social affairs unless

    there’s wine

    available

    and she’s accompanied

    by others who won’t say

    anything

    about her drinking

    because they don’t want

    anyone to say

    anything

    about their own.

    When dinner

    is over

    she leaves

    abruptly,

    and her anxiety

    wanes

    now that her first sip

    of wine

    is just a short trip

    away

    and she wishes

    she could’ve stayed

    longer.


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