Family Affairs

My mother said,
“They aren’t your brothers.”
My father said,
“They’ll slit your throat in a flash.”
My brother said,
“Don’t you know they want us all in the sea?”
My sister said,
“There’s nowhere else for us.”


My mother said,
“Stop being paranoid.”
My father said,
“You know how lucky you are.”
My brother said,
“The most humane country in the world.”
My sister said,
“A democratic society.”


My mother said,
“I think you’re confused.”
My father said,
“Are you sure you’re one of us?”
My brother said,
“Maybe you should go live with them.”
My sister said,
“Traitor.”