Family Tree
after Ethel Cain [work in progress]
it all changed the day he fucked her sideways
it all changed when the blood gushed forth
it all changed when she heard those first chords
it all changed when the hum packed on a harmony
it all changed under the light of a thousand muted stars
it all changed when blind besotted and brave they made a house a home
it all changed when the fridge droned with the fruits of all their labour
it all changed when the china cascaded out the cupboard
it all changed when he sat by the lake drained and desolated by drought
it all changed when his hair thinned and gums bled
it all changed when the baby arrived
it all changed when wails and nails tore at their eyelids
it all changed when she found the empty bottles
it all changed when the crust spread like a festering sore
it all changed when red-rimmed and enraged he collapsed on the bed
it all changed when the dust settled
it all changed when the wind rang hollow
it all changed the day the scratch no longer soothed the itch
it all changed when their daughter turned her head to look at them and grimaced
it all changed when the veins split and they all saw that blood runs thicker than water.