Before the Tequila

Before the tequila,

We shared kisses the taste of

tomatoes

and cilantro.

Now, I get drunk just from the smell of your

intoxicated

breath.

We used to laugh at the stupid things…

Like that time you ran into a glass door and

broke

your

nose.

Now you slam the door in my face,

Break

ing my heart.

I sigh in frustration,

and sarcasm rolls

off

your tongue like

French

Kisses.

“I’m the man of this house!”

You scream.

My black eye can

attest to your authority.

You don’t know that our son

hides in the cupboard,

the one next to the garbage can.

Every time you prove with your fists that

I’m “trash,”

He swallows down

p

r

a

y

e

r

s,

along with his vomit.

And so we crawl,

through the cornfield…

with the mud.

And the

Mice…

Before you down another bottle of

Tequila.