In a mirror held for me recently
by those who have loved me 
long and well
I saw myself desiring
a tussle 
a conflict
some righteous indignation-
not the self-image I had 
been crafting.

I have patience in
my classroom
I was the peacemaker of
my family but
as I watch this docuseries, 
church-sanctioned homeschooling as
a means to raise perfect
victims of
abuse my
hands
are itching
to be
thrown. 

Cling to the fur on my back, babies. 
I will trod you to safety and
hiss through my
ugliest, most pointy snout at
all who give the faintest
whiff of danger.
Survival leaves no time
to suffer fools.