Kiley Brockway, Wishes, 2021
Digital photograph
Have you tried
taking them on a walk, reading them books, a gentle bath filled with flowers
picked by hand in your garden? Have you tried
therapy, psychiatric drugs, art therapy, committing them
to a mental hospital? Have you tried being grateful?
Have you tried not eating gluten, or dairy, eating a rainbow
of vegetables and fruits? Have you tried not worrying
so much? Have you tried public school, private school? Homeschooling? Herbs,
acupuncture, prayer, meditation, yoga, supplements, asking Jesus—
Have you tried getting it right?
Have you split the husk of your own pitiful life open for your child, like the
mottled bananas you peel to make pancakes? Don’t answer. If you had, we wouldn’t
have to ask you these questions. Have you tried blaming
yourself? Have you?