DIVORCE - by Jackie Kay

 

DIVORCE by  Jackie Kay I did not promiseto stay with you till death do us part, oranything like that,so part I must, and quickly. There are thingsI cannot sufferany longer: Mother, you never, ever saida kind wordor a thank-you for all the tedious chores I have done;Father, your breathsmells like a camel’s and gives me the hump;all you ever say is:‘Are you off in the cream puff, Lady Muck?’In this day and age?I would be better off in an orphanage. I want a divorce.There are parents in the world whose faces turnup to the lightwho speak in the soft murmur of riversand never shout.There are parents who stroke their children’s cheeksin the dead of nightand sing in the colourful voices of rainbows,red to blue.These parents are not you. I never chose you.You are rough and wild,I don’t want to be your child. All you do is shoutand that’s not right.I will file for divorce in the morning at first light.