Because I Love You

He grabbed the nearest shoe;

told me to stand up.

He asked if I knew why.

My 4-year-old mind thought, “No, I don’t,

but please tell me, I can’t take this any

longer.”

Out loud I simply said, “Because I didn’t 

eat my peas.”

And then my father beat me with the shoe 

as hard as he could, for as long as

his arms would allow while yelling,

“Because I love you.”