Haberdash-irony

my father sat me down — sewed — his trauma — into my skin —
each stitch — stories same — rehashed — hatred — shone —
— gossamer red threads — there was
no pattern — only —
!!——Fuck——The——Bastards——!!
through — crimson — teeth — until
— I was — stained — too —

he learned young — how to keep his —
— thumb — out a punch —
how bruiseless = blameless — how
train the psyche — well enough —
it ———[hides itself]———

these days I sit — myself down
to do — exposure therapy —
— unstitching myself
—— leaking…

experts say — only way out is — through
so everyday — I’m living
— what I have already survived
sitting down — over and over —
retelling my stories