Mental Mommy

Liam Rector

Home from school at six years old, first grade,

And uncle there to tell me Mommy

Gone, Mommy not be coming back any

Time soon, Liam, Mommy had to go to

Mental hospital. Nervous breakdown.

Years later Mommy, when she gets out

Of mental, often says, “If you’re

A bad boy for me Liam you’re

Going to send me back, back

Into mental hospital, like you did

First time.” At 13

I find out Mom had been doing years

In a federal prison all that time,

For stealing, so no mental hospital for

Mommy. Breakdown ours alone.

I was on my own.