They Call it Separation (poem)

They call it separation
a designation 
for isolation

Being two
I didn't know what to do
I didn't know what to feel
or think
But I watched it sink
I watched it fall over
right before my eyes
but I never cried
I was just two
I didn't know what to do

Or was I three?
Why was daddy leaving me?
No, I didn't wonder that
I just knew I was with mummy

I remember daddy when
it was my birthday and
He made silly faces
He laughed at me making
silly faces

A pretty little birthday cake
A pretty little girl
A pretty little apartment
My pretty little world

But I remember that birthday
Maybe I was two going on three
I remember daddy playing with me
I blew out my candles 
and he stayed with me

And I remember the pretty balloons
sprawled across the floor
I couldn't ask for more
Those balloons, they were pretty

Until one popped
Until one popped and snapped
Snapped at the other
because he was unhappy
or was she unhappy?

And to this day I can't stand
to hear a balloon pop
I feel something might break
maybe a heart might break

They called it separation
a designation 
for isolation

I think it did not end until
my brother was barely one
little brothers were no fun
He'd scream while they screamed
I was the only quiet one

But being two
I didn't know what to do
I just needed it to stop
and I was glad when it stopped

Still, I didn't care
I knew mummy wasn't going anywhere
I watched daddy leave us
but mummy was right there

Wait...no, we left him
He stayed with the apartment
and the balloons
And we went with mummy

What was this?
No more funny faces?
Why live in different places?
I think they...

I think they call it separation
a designation 
for isolation

© 2010 Holly O'Brien