Once done

The hand that leaped to slap the face
Left then right then across the back
Hard
Cannot be recalled

The kisses and caresses after,
The chips and chocolates
just paltry excuses
For the hand that hit the child

The child leaps at the younger
A tiger roaring at a tiny wrong...
The fruit does not fall far from the tree.

You leap you roar you hit
A mirror unto me
Watch my mouth foam
My eyes' hard glare
My hand the whip from nowhere

I have both
made and unmade you.
My dad roared I roared you roar
A family of dangerous jungle cats
Eyes gleam wildly
The thin veneer shimmers
Only a skin away from the step into too late
I pray I hold back that hand...and thus pull back your hand
And stay safely on this side of love and sanity

The hand that hit the child
Cannot be recalled