boundary

and now I’m confused

put off and cut off by

a boundary a line in

the sand that cannot be

crossed I cannot forget

the image of you throwing

a tantrum the drama of which

belonged on stage but for the fact

that was really happening in front of

me as I silently watched unable to

process it because I have never borne

witness to such behavior and for that I

am grateful and no I was

not afraid nor was I angry instead I sat

in quiet disbelief to the episode that unfolded

before me and as quickly as you started you ended

not because you caught yourself but because somehow

you’d finished what you had to say nay scream nay howl

nay roar though that word implies the king of beasts

the lion in all its magnificence and glory

neither of which describe what I watched and now when

I look at you I can’t forget that you were that person even

as you go back to being yourself I cannot forget the violence

that became your demeanor and how easily you transformed and

how I now weigh the possibilities of enduring another momentary loss

of control and how now I am wont to confront you even gently for fear

of a repeat performance so yes now, I am cut off and put off by a boundary a line

in the sand that cannot be crossed because I cannot forget what happened

©Karen Casady2018