Stay good, stay pristine

and you won’t give me a showing up.

Stay silent, don’t move,

and I won’t need to show you why you’re sorry.

Stay mine, don’t have an opinion,

and I won’t slap you around my table.

Stay perfect, don’t pull your ribbon out,

and I won’t need to adjust you in public.

Stay close to me, don’t challenge me,

and I won’t need to give you a showing up.

This poem is for NaPoWriMo Day 20, challenging us to write in the voice of a family member. This is from my abusive mother.