A Battle Lost

Huddled, scared and alone, in a corner, You tower over me in rage Staring at your own daughter, With an expression of horror, As you trap me like an animal in a cage. Hands wrap around my throat; I’m frightened, Air way closing as fingers tightened. The situation diffuses. Alcohol confused my mind. You stare at my bruises, Start making up more excuses, Claiming your rage had you blind. As if you didn't see All the bad things you did to me. Left me with a busted lip, Showed me your inner demon, Purple and black bruise on my hip, Favorite shirt now has a rip, And my body completely beaten. You stare at my face; it’s swollen Leave me on the floor, broken. Find shelter in a room, back pressed to the wall, Your voice, on the other side, starting off calm, But I still, inside, feel ultimately small. Under the bed I crawl And your voice gets as loud as a bomb. All common sense is lost But at what cost? Your daughter is slowly slipping away. With every kick and scratch, With every bad word you say, When you come home drunk every day Ready for a boxing match, Pushing her to her limits And destroying your fatherly image. It will be too late, On the day you realize her worth. When you walk through the door with hate, And I’m already standing at heaven’s gate Because my spirit is no longer on Earth. You will be filled with torment While my soul was heaven sent.