Nuclear Family by Lisa Molina

For Ms. P

Electrons whirring buzzing

orbiting around much larger

protons and neutrons.

Positively charged protons

cling to uncharged neutrons

thus creating a nucleus.

Too many or not enough

of the tiny swirling spinning

negatively charged electrons

creates the primal urge

for them to seek

to bind with others,

thereby forming compounds,

in order to keep that balance

of cosmic perfection.

But

when a neutron

outside the stable unit

is forced into a nucleus,

and that atom is split apart,

an explosion of unparalleled

chaos and destruction ensues.

Sickness/sadness/emptiness.

Death decided

by a puffy fluffy

cloud sky tree.

•

The doorbell rings.

I throw my physics homework

into my duffel bag of

clothes for the weekend

and walk to the front

door to greet my mom

and her boyfriend.

We get into their car

and drive off.

I look out the window

and see my dad,

waving goodbye to

me through the tree

in our front yard.

I wave, and look up

to the clouds,

thinking to myself:

I’m the electron.

---

Lisa Molina is a writer/educator in Austin, Texas, where she earned a BFA from The University of Texas. She has taught high school English and Theater Arts, and later served as Associate Publisher of Austin Family Magazine. Molina now works with high school students with special needs. Her writing can be found in journals including Trouvaille Review, Beyond Words Magazine, Neologism Poetry, Amethyst Review, The Ekphrastic Review, and Fahmidan Journal.