What Mamá Said

This is what mamá would say
Once a man tastes
Blood, it thirsts for more
This is what mamá would say

This is what mamá was saying
When Cristal got in trouble
This is what she said while
She beat her. Electric chord
Screaming, cowering, hands trying
To protect. It gave way, but
Mamá not done with her,
Gotta make it stick, a stick

A switch, is what mamá's ma used
On her. Back up, to the old
Country, sixteen years then,
Three borders away. She
The first to fall, the originator

Couldn't help it, Cristal not in
Mamá's narrow scope, making
Ends and seams meet each week.
Food on the table, and a place to
Keep said table

Reaching for something else
Numb, swollen carpals, grabbed for--
Fell short--a clothes hanger
Cracked on first crack, mamá
Backed away, furious crying, she
Couldn't help it