SIDE ISSUES
When I was thirteen,
my bleeding began,
just two days before
high school, eighth grade.
Excited, I ran to my mother,
who slapped my face, hard,
explaining that this was
our religion's tradition.
When I was sixteen,
my father slapped my face, hard,
because I had mouthed off
at my mother.
They had not been getting along,
so I was really moved by that one.
After all, he was on my mother's side,
whereas she had been only on God's.
Copyright Julianza Shavin 2009
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Wonderfully done in concept and execution. -gene.