walk with me, maama there, behind their backs, you and i could be free i can bring a sky-lifting palette will you paint the walls beyond white? the bills can be mine, time all yours i may never stop your hair from greying or the affable fine lines i insist you, my sweet honey take this new road, walk with me, maama, aloof ardent this ridiculous crowd, this treachorous daughter choose, mother, or choose not don’t smile away the silence don’t iron decades into socks for today you can be more: the books, the trips, the choices you never had walk with me, maama, there, in front of all of them freedom without you is a whale smothered by the sea listen to your shadows anecdoche, all we robbed you of your marrow, your blood, your interests, your youth hate me. hate all of us.   walk away, mother or run