Ripple Effect

At five, I circled the block with a defiant tricycle ride

My mother spanked me, lovingly and terrified

At eight, my father taught me to skip stones on the Mettawee

My eyes delighted in chasing circles of pristine symmetry.

When Yahaira came in with four deep colored lines on her face

And without a trace

Of forethought, I asked her.

Yahaira brought her open hand to her cheek as an answer.

As a mandated reporter.

A CHINS* order was filed.

To sort out the situation, Court was called to order.

17 year-old Yahaira began her emancipation

Here I was at thirty-five, still wide-eyed

Before me, a child full of grace with a slap imprinted on her face.

Was it sinister?

Or

Was it another mother terrified by a child who had defied her?

*The child in need of services (CHINS) statute authorizes court intervention in cases where a child or youth exhibits certain identified undesirable behaviors