momma weed, flower child

momma weed, flower child
--for richard
in the garden of life
the weeds strangle the flowers
the veggies
unless somebody is vigilant
the moment you turn your back
the weeds run rampant
sucking the nutrients intended
for you
the gentle one bringing pleasure

fuck that botany 101
there was cross pollination
your momma was a weed
your father unknown
perhaps some great sunflower
whose seeds birds gobbled greedily
shitting out whole
fertilized in foreign ground
your weed momma close at hand
sucking the nutrients
telling you you were a weed too
she raised you to be a weed
thorny ugly messing with others lives
until god with the great 'round-up'
the great weed-eater in the sky
descended
you watched her wither
while you began to bloom
her leaves shrink
& allow the sun to shine
on you
for you to begin blooming

bloom
despite any doubts
bloom
because you can
just because we have to call them
mother father sister brother
doesn't make them good
that we are obligated to love
you can be out from under her
good for you
good for you
let the rain be your tears
let them help you grow
it's okay to smile at her death.