Whiskey Breath

When you score your first goal, go out for ice cream

When your teacher gives you your first gold star, frame it

When you get told you're pretty for the first time, smile at every reflection you see

 

When your father tells you he does not love you do not cry

 

When you buy your first bra, buy the first neon one you see

When you get your first boyfriend write poems about how he makes you feel real

When you decide you want to become a doctor, tell your cat

 

When your father tells you he does not love you do not cry

 

When you get your braces off, buy every flavor of gum at the market

When you get your license, wear your natural hair for the picture

When you get asked to prom, practice dance moves with your cat

 

When your father tells you he does not love you do not cry

 

When you get chosen for that internship, buy heels that don't squish your toes

When you realize bras are uncomfortable, burn them all

When you get your first pay check, buy heels that do squish your toes

 

When your father tells you he does not love you do not cry

 

When you get into your dream school, friend all the cute bio majors on Facebook 

When your first boyfriend cheats on you write poems about how he made you feel real

When you get your first apartment, dance around naked

 

When your father tells you he does not love you do not cry

Do not let the word ‘not’ make you think about tying one around your neck

Do not look for the reasons he should in men that smell like him

Who drive cars like him

Who are as old as him

Who leave scars like him

 

When your father tells you he does not love you

Do not let the memory of his whiskey rants burn a permanent thirst in your soul for answers 

Answers you do not require, answers you do not need to validate your existence 

 

When your father tells you he does not love you, hang up the phone

Throw your fist into a mirror and smile at every reflection you see

Then throw away the shards

 

Realize the answer does not exist, the answer does not have your validation to exist

Realize that men like him have no place in your life

have no place in this world

Have no place to rest his whiskey hang over 

Whiskey hang over

Over hang whiskey

Hang over whiskey

Hand over the whiskey father

 

Grab the whiskey, spill his whiskey, let him watch the whiskey pour down the drain

Have him beg for this whiskey

Have him cry for this whiskey

Hear him say he loves his whiskey

 

Go out and buy him a new bottle and then write a poem about how he made you feel too real

 

 

 

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This poem is about: 
Me
My family

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