who does one run to
when mother has gone
and left only her voice
and left only her eyes
that stare back from the mirror?

who does one cry to
when father never was
and left only his absence
and left only his blood
that are impotent against life?

so i will be mother to myself
so i will be father to myself
and be a nightlight in the black
and a fist against the faces
that seek to take advantage
setting myself ablaze
to walk in the tinder dry forest
of the world around me.