Be Proud Your Son’s A Man by Zach King-Smith

i
saw
her

struggling
with just a few
bags

of
groceries

one
in
each
arm

her
back
was
bent

i
imagine
that

the days
she’s lived

rolled over
her like thousands
of cars over an old
highway

her
face
was
cracked

she
didn’t
say it

but
that
bastard
she called

her
husband

gave it
to her good

a few
too many
times

with
his
meaty
fists

she told
me that

i was
a good man

i
nodded and
walked off

truth
is that

there
are no
good men

anywhere

it’s
not
that

black &
white.