baby, be free

 

daddy gets quiet 

at all the wrong times

says i love you

which doesn't echo respect

which is confusing

because language

because programming

my perception is twitching

my insides are twisting

i know that's a sign

that the ride's not aligned

and still how deep the pull

to keep expecting

all the things

they said we would get

from continuing to

gut and offer ourselves

at the legs of the throne

of a dead entity

never able to connect 

where pathways weren't formed

to keep leaning in to lack

attempting to pave and illuminate

so maybe, maybe, they can come,

find, understand, affirm,

baby, that's way too much work

baby, it doesn't need to be this way

baby, be free