Hereditary
By Catherine Moscatt
It’s one of those nights
The tectonic plates in my mind
Are moving again
We seem to be due
For an earthquake
I share my fears, unburden myself
Like I had been dragging cinderblocks
Tied to my feet all day
Is it selfish
For a sea this stormy
To want a ship?
Is it selfish that someone like me
Looks forward to the day
She can hold a baby and smile, hypnotized by the
Beauty of her own children
Someone like me
Someone uneven, a kindergartener with a pair of
Scissors trying to cut in a straight line
Someone erratic like a drunk driver navigating
Potholes and mailboxes
Yes someone broken, yes someone damaged, yes
Someone struggling
But someone strong and brave and my heart
Is full of love
Someone who will get up for late night feedings, attend
PTA meetings, help her child win the science fair
Someone who can piece together an almost perfect
Life for these children
And if they turn out like me?
If they do, I will sit up nights when the demons
Try to spew their lies
I will visit the hospital every day and bring
store bought baked goods
I will do anything to reduce any bit of
Suffering
And if they do turn out like me?
Then they will turn out strong and brave with hearts,
Full of love
Is that such a bad thing to be?

Catherine Moscatt is a 22 year old counseling and human services major. Besides poetry, she enjoys playing basketball, listening to loud music and watching terrible horror movies.