BELIEVE ME, FATHER

“Believe Me, Father’

My head hit the floor

With a loud thud

My body aches

From all your shoves

For just a minute,

Step back, please.

To give me time

To speak my peace.

It’s not what you think

It’s not that at all

He is just a kind

Junior high school boy

Ouch, how that stings!

My face really hurts

No, his hand wasn’t

Inside my skirt

Daddy, you’re wrong

Your thoughts, irrational

Please hear my words

Your actions, maniacal

Pleading on my knees,

Believe me, Father,

I’m not a tease

I’m your loving daughter.

I lie on the floor

Hoping you close the door

I beg you no more

Knowing what’s in store

When off comes your belt

I buckle at your swing

Your swipes will leave welts

They’ll burn and they’ll sting

Like the punch to my jaw

While wearing your ring

I retract and cry out

To the bedpost, I cling

My screams, my shouts

Upon deaf ears they fall

No one is going

To answer my call

You’re finally done

You walk away

You turn back once

I know what you’ll say

About this, you say nothing

Is what he will say

Those same old words

Just a different day

Eyes filled with tears

I climb in my bed

I pull up my blanket

My prayers have been said.