Brain anomalies manifest
in interesting ways. Some so
subtle they escape
detection at first
glance.
Especially the ones
incurred before birth,
during gestation. The
neonate has no
option. He
makes do.
He sees. He mimics.
Doesn’t really feel. He
fakes normal. What
else can
he do?
He must survive. Mother
coos. He coos, too, but
does not care
at all. She’s
fooled.
We all are. Something
is not right. We
know. His smile
chills. His eyes
frighten.
Time reveals. He
can’t evolve. Calcified.
The smile more
sardonic. The eyes
penetrate like a
knife.
Martha Ellen lives alone in an old Victorian house on a hill on the Oregon coast. Retired social worker. History of social justice activism. MFA. Poems and prose published in various journals and online forums. She writes to process the events of her wild life.