Granddaughter Jackie Metcalf and I have two generations between us - one reason I can never claim to understand her way of looking at things, our shared "bad genes" non-withstanding.  Her poetry since she was about nine years old leaves one thinking... and thinking...   But that's what poetry should do, provoke another point of view.

Everywhere, In Everything 

In life,
Always in control
Now and forever more.
Can’t escape the suffocating grip.
Always gonna have the upper hand.

Why?
'Cuz you’re everywhere.
In Everything.
No escaping.

In dreams,
Crying at night
Thrashing in sleep
Waking up in cold sweat.
Bruising appears hours to days later.

Why?
'Cuz you’re everywhere.
In Everything.
No escaping.

In memories,
A phrase, a word, a picture
Anything and everything triggers it
Suddenly the mind travels back,
To a time suppressed or forgot.

Why?
'Cuz you’re everywhere.
In Everything.
No escaping.

Copyright 2003 Jackie Metcalf