The Intergenerational Curse of The "Men Ain't Shit" Mentality by Ayling Zulema Dominguez
How do I tell my mother
that she made me so strong—
strong enough to handle the hurt and frustration
I feel when my partner isn’t holding me
as I cry
because I was too strong to tell him
I wanted to be held
How do I tell her
that she made me so independent
independiente such that ain’t
no man
ever gonna hold me back
ain’t no
man
ever gonna be
enough?
How do I tell her
about the fighter she’s raised, perpetually unfazed
so accustomed to being in the ring
gloves on, fists up
her sting
so hard like a bee
she sometimes forgets how to fly
like a butterfly
how to just
Be
How do I tell her
that when it is just me, myself, and I
and I dare take a look inside
I am unsure that I can pick apart
where she ends and I start
How do I tell my mother?