Mother Always Said

When I asked her why she never said

“I love you,” to me,

My mother always replied,

“Actions speak louder than words,”

So she never complimented me,

Never told me I was pretty,

Never told me I was smart.

She never hugged me spontaneously,

And always refused to hold my hand.

But the sadistic glee in her eyes and

The joy in the smile twitching on her lips

When she pummeled with slaps and fists

After pulling me out of bed

Screaming in uncontrolled rage

In the middle of the night

For normal childish mistakes and misdeeds

Made it abundantly clear,

That if nothing else

My mother was an honest woman.

For her…

“Actions spoke louder than words.”

Do you want to see the scars?