Poem: Don’t Pull Me In, by Mark Tulin

The anxiety of triangulation.

Don't Pull Me In
By Mark Tulin

Mom, dad
don't pull me in
to your Bermuda Triangle,
I'll never come out
alive

you're old enough
to work things out
I have my own conflicts
to figure out
and I don't need to be dragged
in the middle
of an emotional battlefield

stand up like adults
change your dynamics
listen to each other 
and stop dragging in
your son and daughter

your words only hurt my head
and sour my perception of you - 
I'm not choosing sides
I'm not fighting your fight
I'm only thirteen 
I've got acne to worry about

And even if I tried,
I'm ill-equipped to help
It will only make matters worse
increase my anxiety
while making you feel better
only temporarily

See a shrink
Call a priest
Pray to God
Cast a spell
Or google the answer
like you do everything else

'Cause I refuse to age before my time
I'm a kid, I'm too young
to experience
grown-ass conflicts
and issues I don't understand

So, let me be alone
in my room listening to music
or talking on the phone,
get a divorce
if you can't work it out 
or let me live with someone else
 - Please, keep your problems
to yourself.