Decades

“your daughter has committed suicide”
my brother-in-law says
to my 80 year old father

“and it’s your fault!” tonight
after years of domestic
abuse, violence and insults … [i hang it up]

he rings back, of course.
crazed, demanding, belittling,
meek, puzzling, accusing.

I call the police
of course. they are
annoyed, of course.

she rings up later [alive]
of course. i take
the call, of course.

she hangs up on me [alive]
of course. i unplug
their phone

(my 80 year old parents)
of course. after decades
of it … and now another new

year beginning with it
i write another poem
… of course.

© 2017 Melinda Irvine
Daily Prompt: Year