crying uncle

[bianca.a.palmisano]

I do like the switch you made to italics for the quote. I think it can actually stand almost alone, since it's understood that the person is speaking. Something like...

your I love you
is a cold calculation 

transactional

Given space for those lines to breath, I actually want a little more from the last stanza. I agree that family comes out of nowhere. It's not established who the "you" of the poem is-- partner, child, extended relative. Is there a way to establish that while keeping the phrase "counterfeit idea of family" which I think is very strong? Maybe you can bring back the "bond " language (another nice extension of the metaphor) to clarify?

currency

when you say I love you
I value that
as purely transactional

a cold calculation

I no longer find currency
in your counterfeit idea
of family

currency

You say, “I love you.” I value that
as purely transactional.

Your calculation of love is based
solely upon your bottom line.

You sold the bond between us
for pennies on the dollar,

and I no longer find currency
in your counterfeit idea of family.