Unpalatable

Once in a family, 80-year war
broke out in front of a jalousie door.
(New kitchen cupboards, quite clean and intact;
  needling comments made grandma react.*)

O now in “Dutch” was a grandmother placed
(though I think daughter-in-law was disgraced)
since she went right for the jugular vein:
“You’ll never see your granddaughter again!”

(Because, like Leiden in siege long ago,
  grandma’s resistance reverted to low.
  That’s what occurs when one stifles her tongue
  year after year with a snot who’s high strung.)

I came along with the dust still air-borne--
(it was my Mom--I could see she was torn.)
Daughter-in-law made the threat as I said;
she slammed the door--Mom’s face looked like white bread.

Mom and Dad went to Virginia, tails tucked;
(holding a granddaughter hostage sure sucked.)
Parents are gone yet a bad taste was cast;
the taste of herring would soar by contrast.


20 Lines (Rhythm: 10)
Writer’s Cramp
10-3-14
____________

Requirements:
--80-year war
--Leiden
--white bread
--herring
____________

*Mom got new cupboards.  Yet the daughter-in-law,
  rather than saying something nice, could only find
  fault and disparage.  Mom could bite her tongue
  no longer, and (rightly so) let the daughter-in-law
  have it.  The 80-year war continues.