Listen...

As a parent it is your job to pay more attention...it can happen to anyone.

“Watch mommy!”

“Not now honey, I’m busy”

“Mom! I’m riding my bike”

“Great honey, keep it up”

As you look in the opposite direction

All she wanted was your attention

Never spending time with her

Always putting other things before her

And that’s when it happened

While you were ignoring her

She took a stroll outside

Six years later, age 12 now

A car drives by her asking how her day was

No one asks her at home so she answers

This stranger talks to her then leaves

Your daughter is happy to have someone to talk to

While you’re still working

She’s cooking a meal and getting ready for bed

The next day the same thing happens

A week goes by and they’re on a first name basis

Your daughter has become familiar with this stranger

Do you ever ask where she is? No

One day the boundaries are breeched

The stranger asks if she wants a ride

Your daughter says yes

While driving away

The stranger begins caressing her leg

She doesn’t move the hand, she knows no better

The stranger takes it further

Parking somewhere foreign

Unlocking their belts and taking her to the back

Your daughter struggles

She isn’t strong enough

She screams but no one can hear her

She calls for you

She prays that you save her

As the stranger hurts her over and over

She cries loudly, but is muffled by his hand

His heavy sweaty body on top of hers

She thinks she was stupid

How could she befriend a stranger?

She is no longer screaming or crying

All the pain is gone

She is numb and lifeless

Waiting for it all to end

When the stranger is done, he drops her off

She opens the door to find her mother on the couch

Eyes over the book, glasses on, relaxed

She doesn’t want to ruin this moment

But she knows she can’t bare this wound

You watch your daughter head up the stairs

Limping, something’s not right

You rush upstairs in time

As she is taking her clothes off, you see the blood

“Honey! No!”

You knew all too well what had happened

“I called for you mommy…”

“I’m so sorry”

Thinking, how could you have let this happen?

You told yourself when you were younger

You would never let your daughter stray

As you had, one day ago, that took your innocence

Listen…all I had to do was listen…

Author's Note

Honest comments; please and thank you

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Great wisdom to be learn in the poem. We need to listen to our children. Also teach them right and wrong. I told my daughters. Trust no-one. This is the type of poetry that need to be exposed to many people. Thank you for the powerful poetry.
Coyote

[Dominique Lambright]

Thank you. It will be in the next book I publish because I have many like this where a message needs to be heard when people dont want to acknowledge the issues that exist around it

[Coyote Poetry]

Children must know the cold truth. It is sad we live in a world where a child isn't safe.

[Dominique Lambright]

Yea there are so many people who are messed up and dont value a child's childhood enough to leave them alone and not ruin it with their twisted motives

[Coyote Poetry]

I have four children and three grand-boys. I worry for them always.

[Dominique Lambright]

Yea it is a must to always pay attention to what your child is exposed to and who. I know when my mom read my poem she was one shocked at my work and two definitely proud tht I understood what her and my dad have taught me and shown me while i was growing up, knowing that i listened to them as well as they did me

[Coyote Poetry]

Old Native American saying. "Grandparent have great responsibility. They teach and mold the life of the children. The children are the wealth of many teachings."

[Dominique Lambright]

That is a good one. Now if we could get this generation to shape up some, I believe they sill have a chance if they listen. A lot of people have been saying this generation is going to suck if something isnt done about it

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. I'm off to sleep. I work the night shift. I will return tonight and be alive on the Writer's cafe.

[Dominique Lambright]

Alright :)

[Veeran Black]

This poem floods my head with images. Very detailed. Puts me in a darker mode. I like it.

[Dominique Lambright]

Thank you very much

[Laura Harrison]

This is a very sad and heartbreaking poem about something that unfortunately happens in this world. It's a terrible thing

[Dominique Lambright]

Yes and I wish there weren't so many sick people in the world but parents can help avoid this kind of thing I believe with just a little quality time and talking to their children