Multifunctional Families Poem by James McLain

I would tell them every thing
nothing is what they hear instead of
and it is all because
they can not even speak of what they wanted
when they were my age
so I try and read their minds
and always, I am failing
speaking more is like whispering to each other
when I am around
I tell my mother how nice she smells
and she gives me the strangest look, as if
father always cold and distant a shadow
his finger always hesitates
when walking past him
mother sees it and says nothing
and of course
how can I ask any of my friends
to spend there, nights
I have never ask my friends
about their parents
if they are kissed or hugged
complemented in any thing other than silence
numb my feeling have become more as if
and left I am to wonder forever
the cupboard doors banging open and shut
every night is at all considered normal
activity for multifunctional families.