Why I Choose to Continue to Love My Mother

(even if at times she cannot love me)

she and I both

were pulled apart

wire hangers

on back and bone

metal to vertebrate

yanked hair

black leather belts

and purple skin

she and I both were

squawking nature, feathers

clipped and caged

but now, I am choosing to heal

choosing generational mercy

the end of a bleeding tree

and hopefully, I am sprouting

new leaves for future fledglings

and hopefully, we will be perched

peacefully upon reconciled branches

and hopefully, she will be there too

singing

Syl Muñoz is a poet and spoken word artist living in El Paso, TX. She is currently studying psychology and creative writing at UTEP.