The Fair Estate

Within the fair estate
Beyond the locked cast iron gate
Tenth bedroom on the left
Second floor
Daughter has just locked the door
She digs in her purse for the vial

Within the fair estate
Beside the pristine china vase
As mother's cold eyes scan the room
Perfect, white
Not a speck of dust in sight
She's startled by the stereo upstairs

A daughter's heart racing toward a flatline with no brakes
Toward a glow-white E.R. to match the mansion
Fashionably sterilized staring eyes close

Within the fair estate
Doctor's attention came too late to stop the amphetamines
Mother's love for the girl
Or lack thereof
Had curled its icy fingers around her throat
Where were you when I needed you?

Within the fair estate
Beside the most luxurious grave
Mother's eyes are melting ice
Above the moon warns it will be winter soon
Burying her engraved name in snow