poem from 6-14-00
Liddy
One evening little Liddy burst through the door
she said I'm not fighting your battles anymore
This was a side of her he'd never seen before
and he reluctantly took her aside.
She said I love you, Daddy, but why must you kill
the spirit inside me that loves you still?
Just answer my question and then do what you will,
but first I have to know why.
Her small hand in his, down the hall she was led
cringing, into the room with the bed
her cheeks were blushing a bright burning red
but she obediently undressed and laid down.
He said you are so lovely and so very young
she asked do you think hurting me is fun?
He said yes; I don't regret what I've done
and she said will you tell me why?
Then her father transfixed her with the look in his eye
he said you wouldn't understand, so don't even try
and her face was so tortured, he thought she would cry
but she sat up in the bed and smiled.
You'd better not touch me, Daddy, she said
it's been six months since I've bled
and if I have a child now the blame's on your head
and he bowed his face in shame.
How guilty, how sad, how ashamed you must feel
now that Mommy knows and your secret's revealed,
'cause no matter what, you can't keep her lips sealed
and you, Daddy, are going to hell.
Then her father paled 'till his face was grey
he moved his lips but he had nothing to say
and he stood there hating the way
he could not look in her eyes.
He said I was only proving I'm a man
it's the way of the grownups; you wouldn't understand
then he moved to the bed and he picked up her hand
he said, and you deserved it, you see.
But the lie was revealed, and Daddy couldn't wait
he was afraid of his daughter and the way his heart ached.
As he packed his bag, he wished himself awake,
but he wasn't dreaming at all.
And as his car roared away, his voice could be heard
but little Liddy laughed, 'cause she'd had the last word
and while her daddy lived in the shame he preferred,
Liddy picked up her pieces and went on.
One evening little Liddy burst through the door
she said I'm not fighting your battles anymore
This was a side of her he'd never seen before
and he reluctantly took her aside.
She said I love you, Daddy, but why must you kill
the spirit inside me that loves you still?
Just answer my question and then do what you will,
but first I have to know why.
Her small hand in his, down the hall she was led
cringing, into the room with the bed
her cheeks were blushing a bright burning red
but she obediently undressed and laid down.
He said you are so lovely and so very young
she asked do you think hurting me is fun?
He said yes; I don't regret what I've done
and she said will you tell me why?
Then her father transfixed her with the look in his eye
he said you wouldn't understand, so don't even try
and her face was so tortured, he thought she would cry
but she sat up in the bed and smiled.
You'd better not touch me, Daddy, she said
it's been six months since I've bled
and if I have a child now the blame's on your head
and he bowed his face in shame.
How guilty, how sad, how ashamed you must feel
now that Mommy knows and your secret's revealed,
'cause no matter what, you can't keep her lips sealed
and you, Daddy, are going to hell.
Then her father paled 'till his face was grey
he moved his lips but he had nothing to say
and he stood there hating the way
he could not look in her eyes.
He said I was only proving I'm a man
it's the way of the grownups; you wouldn't understand
then he moved to the bed and he picked up her hand
he said, and you deserved it, you see.
But the lie was revealed, and Daddy couldn't wait
he was afraid of his daughter and the way his heart ached.
As he packed his bag, he wished himself awake,
but he wasn't dreaming at all.
And as his car roared away, his voice could be heard
but little Liddy laughed, 'cause she'd had the last word
and while her daddy lived in the shame he preferred,
Liddy picked up her pieces and went on.