Men Leave
Stepdaddy never showed up
for my birthday party
even though Momma called.
He didn’t show up at the
hospital when Grandpa
couldn’t estimate my carbs.
He never showed up again
Until he was in that casket.
Someone died honey Momma’s
Voice broke. Who?
Jonas. Not again
I groaned because
I lost another Daddy now
and who did I have left?
I waited for months
to find out from
hidden, late night
phone conversations
that he chose to leave us
to leave me
to leave my little Brother
to leave my Momma
to leave my sister
to leave my older brother.
I hated him
what he did
that he didn’t come to me
that I didn’t know
that I didn’t help him.
I hated that Momma never told me
until it was too late
until he was gone.