FREE VERSE
Good Family Values
To the people from ‘good families’ looking down their noses at the rest of us. If something happens to you, we’ll have your back.
What does it mean to be from a good family?
Good family values -
What does that involve?
Who taught you to judge us so harshly?
Did the lessons learned in your wonderful, wholesome childhood
Instill that particular trait?
Do good families show pity instead of empathy?
Do good families judge people about the cards they’re dealt?
Do good families exclude and insult?
Criticise and scrutinise as a way of communication?
Do good families teach you to only trust those who have a bond of blood with you?
Do good families chuckle at your hardships because you haven’t had it ‘as tough’ as them?
We’re sorry to you and your good families that our family’s depression is such an ‘inconvenience.’
We’re sorry to you and your good families that our family’s battles with addiction are such an ‘embarrassment.’
We’re sorry to you and your good families that our family’s trauma-riddled personalities isn’t what you desire.
And most of all, we’re sorry for trying to make space for ourselves in your good families.
From our broken homes to your good family,
We leave you with this:
Life happens.
People die.
People get terrorised.
People fall into addiction.
People struggle to maintain stable mental health.
People from broken homes know this.
Hardships often strip away the inessential.
We know sometimes the best of intentions miss the mark.
We know life can be unpredictable, so you need to create predictability where you can.
We know life can be unstable, so you need to feel grounded on wiggly land.
We know life can be harsh, so you need to think about others kindly.
We know families don’t have the capacity to meet your needs, so you form strong bonds of love & connection with others.
Most of all we know this:
Good family values - is a house of cards.
You’re one death, one trauma, one accident away from it all tumbling down.
And when it does, it’s people with good family values who judge you the harshest,
For not fitting into their neat, family boxes.
Thank you so much for reading. If my writing resonates with you, you can find more on my Medium profile.
