Suffocated, pressured,

pressed, choking,

rage that closed me in,

shaking, aching, red and raw

want to scream, to lash out.

So I turned away,

toxic ex, toxic biological father,

go fuck yourselves.

Such a potent phrase,

one I wanted to yell

in fat, smug, satisfied faces

but that slammed door closed gentle,

that closed heart eased,

those bitter fists lowered

to soft palms to press,

to hold, to embrace the new life,

my infant son, and the jeering

voices of yesteryear would fade

to old scars, to whispers,

to nothing.