Family Reunion

In summer’s high light, she stood at the sink,

the dishes stacked haphazardly, teetering,

or drowning in sudsy water, hot and steamy

to rinse them clean, and cleared now, washing away

the remnants of a family reunion, an annual gathering

of dysfunctional relatives hanging about,

their voices slurred and hushed, the clang

of horseshoes pitched or the whine of children,

tired and restless, parent voices raised and calling out

threats and promises made to quiet them, drawing

her back to ’65 and Uncle John’s leering,

luring her, grabbing and groping hands, his

breath sour and lingering … still … her calls unheard

in the din of a family gathering no one cared to attend,

but feared to stay away from, even now,

to quell the rumors and stories best untold;

and with apologies, threats, and promises made,

her innocence was taken in a gathering of family,

and in summer’s high light, she stood at the sink,

teetering, the dishes stacked, drowning

her tears behind sudsy water, hot and steamy,

the remnants of a family reunion that can’t be washed away.