Generational

If I could rewind time,

go back to the beginning of my life and erase the ugly parts,

replace the broken hearts,

press restart,

would I make different choices?

Would I repeat the same mistakes?

If my mother never grew up in a house of abuse,

If she had been built up instead of beaten down,

would she have held her head proud?

Would she make different choices?

Would she repeat the same mistakes?

I can trace the patterns.

I can see the lines upon her face.

Or is it my face I see when

I look into my daughter’s eyes?

She was hurt,

as I was-

as my mother was-

hurt by men

and boys who think

girls are toys

and

the past repeats

again.