A pasted-on smile
Obscures dark bile
Built up over generations of
Harshness and abuse.
Now, unable to feel,
She expends all her energy
Repeating the cycle,
Destroying people to amass things,
Hoarding as much stuff
As possible to compensate
For what’s missing although it
Doesn’t heal her pain.
She doesn’t know what else to do and
Refuses to change course,
Just like her forebears.
