by Mary E. Lowd
I treated him like a role model
And he treats me like an acquaintance
Happy to say hello
Willing to acknowledge my greatness
So long as I make sure
My greatness is inarguable
He wouldn’t want to be accused of favoritism
Yet he asked me for favors
Because you see, I’m family
And if he finds my words here someday
This grown man
Who wrote a whole novel
About my childhood
And left me out
Erased me from my favorite parts
Of my own formative years
The parts with his family
Will he be hurt?
Would he dare?
I wonder what it must be like
To have the family you love
Love you back
I guess when I read his books
I see a glimpse
He loves his own children
I guess he doesn’t know
What a giant he was in my eyes
It’s funny that I’m the one
Who walked in his footsteps
Far enough behind
And forgotten enough
That the brambles have filled back in
And tear at my skin