Mercy

I made jacket potatoes with tuna-sweetcorn.

Dad curled his nose

like I’d piled the plate

with dirty underwear.

You can’t even get the easy stuff right, he said.

I try, I told him.

He raised his hand at this retort

then changed his mind.

You make it very hard to love you,

you know,

Allie.

At times he could be merciful.