She could never please her mother
who was, after all, French, and had
her standards.  No matter how hard
the American daughter tried,
her facial structure would never
allow her to sound truly French.
She spent a lifetime trying
to understand why she wasn’t worthy
of love.  Rocks rubbing against rocks.

They say each generation is an over-
reaction to the last one.
Inevitable bruising in this pendulum swing,
heads knocking against heads.
I heard a priest say,
be quick to forgive
unintended consequences.