The Pharmacist

I didn’t come here for a prescription,

but an open, accepting ear,

yet every time I come visit,

you choke my head with pills.

I wanted to share my experience,

yet all you seem to do,

is fill my purse with to-do lists,

instead of walking in my shoes.

I called you to catch up on life,

and thought you’d ask how I feel,

but you are too busy fixing me

to acknowledge me as a mirror.

I grow tired of your opinions,

your shoulds, your need tos, your don’ts,

that I stop calling you altogether

because I feel anxious when we talk.

Now that I am a mother, it’s different.

You may see me as your little sister,

but I am not. I am a grown up woman,

and I need space to call the shots.

I don’t want your advice on everything,

and if I do, I will kindly ask for it up front.

I would like to be treated as an equal,

not a project you tackle all at once.