Do You Remember?

Do you remember mother
that day I was doing chores
in the back pasture
carrying buckets half my size?

Do you remember
the stalls I cleaned
the cow manure
on my clothes
that I went to school with?

Because I did not
have enough time
to change clothes
and make the bus
and you said
you would bust my but
if you had to
take me to school?

I remember
every fight
and how I waxed strong
and learned
how to value people
for who they were
and not what they had.

I want to thank you
for teaching me
to carry on
to work through the anger.

You taught me
to keep my head down
burn my nose
on the grind stone.

You were tough
and I hated you
most of my life.
But, now I thank you
for the lack of mercy
and the gravel in my gut.

Nothing
touches me any more.
I have survived
and have made it
this far in life
because of you.