The sins of my father
burden me.
Lie heavy on my shoulders
and I blame him for it.
*
Part of him haunts me.
A ghost of his
flows in my veins
and I despise it.
*
That is why
I’m so surprised
when I’m loved.
I feel unworthy of it.
Hold on to it
and cherish it.
I need all the love
I can get.
*
The sins of my mother
weigh me down.
Sag my heart
and make me crawl.
She never could understand.
The life she gave
would turn from her
leave her and live.
*
That is why I love
with all my being.
a separate being.
For if they love me and suffer for it.
I too will suffer anything for them.
*
I turn my back
on the sins of my parents.
I refuse to alow them to destroy me
but still they haunt me and taunt me.
Whispering doubts of dying ghosts –
“Your love will be like your parents'”
Oud-Berchem, Antwerpen, België