If I tell this like it was told
then you’ll forgive me.
Our father
had no mercy.
He stripped me in the bathroom
while mother packed our lunches.
I didn’t scream because I thought
it wouldn’t hurt this long.
He spoke softly
and touched me like a doctor.
When he was done, God,
he hugged me,
told me to get dressed or I’d miss the bus
so I hurried. I didn’t want to stay.
All I could think of
all day at school was
how could I ever kiss him goodnight?
And if by now you think
this couldn’t happen to you,
understand, it didn’t
happen to me. I was just telling you
how it was told to me.

 

© David Feela