Authority vs Authenticity

In one of them we are ourselves
as we want to be, for good and ill,
not that we expect ill to become us.

In the other we put on stale airs
to disguise how we lack control
and claim power over others
when we should let then be themselves. 

Mother Never Said

to, or of, the young Malcolm
'He can't even change a light bulb
without me having to do it for him,
never mind his hopes as a child
that how we live when he is older
will be better than it is now'.

Though she knew that children
the world over expect optimism
to be the hallmark of their futures.

She never needed to speak
-her actions spoke for her.
What came across loud and clear
was her need to never be questioned.

I can't mind. I have survived being her property.
But may I dedicate this blog entry to her?

She will assume she wrote in the first place....