Margaret Alice (The Crystal Age / Pretoria - South Africa)

Why do people take delight in nurturing
all things negative, in propagating every
damning word that was said to them
in confidence?

It makes me wary of friends and family
even more wary of myself – am I like
this, if pressed in a family gathering,
will I also tell all how bad

Sister felt about mother’s rejection, how paranoid
mother supposedly was - I suppose I might, and
once again decide never to visit the family
to partake in general gossip

Your shock on hearing your sister and mother
attacked by a sister-in-law who wasn’t stopped
by your childhood hero – your elder brother -
showed how deep such attacks hurt

She blissfully dissected the sweetest memories
you treasure of your deceased family, but she
did NOT say a word about them, she only
revealed the contents of her mind

I shall never entrust a confidence to such
a callous person – you did not expect the
attack – next time you will be
forewarned…