If Mom Was Here

The door of the apartment opens,
A girl enters,
Lisa her name,
Sixteen, her age.

She throws her bag on the couch,
Another day was coming to an end,
Her shirt has a stain
From Herbert spilling orange juice on her.

She switches on the TV.
Oh, her favourite soap.
Will Jessie marry Carla?
the phone rings.

It's Shanece.
She wants to talk about her boyfriend,
As usual,
Lisa told her she had homework.

It's four o'clock,
Got to fix dinner,
Macaroni and cheese with grilled chicken,
Maybe a salad.

It's now nine o'clock.
Her dad comes home.
Drunk.
Angry.

He does not like the dinner.
He slaps her
And punches her.
He turns to go to the den
To drink some more.

Things were different,
Her father was different
When her mother was alive.
Now the blows reign.

Things would have been
Different
If mom was here.