MY INHERITANCE

My mother takes to her bed
when the news is bad.
Her mother drank gin
at 6pm on the dot,
with the radio off.

My father turns the shower
to cold for one minute
every morning.
His father
stood on his head daily
while breathing deeply.

I would like to combine
headstands with gin
but instead
there are days when I find myself
under the blankets

holding my breath.