A Pained Young Life

Black and blue surrounds your face,

Your arms, your legs and every place.

Bruises - like paint on your skin,

Covered over, your tears held in.

I wondered how you could survive,

But for you living, was wanting to die.

Every night, your heart torn out,

Matching the screams from your throat so loud.

Your body numb from his fists.

If only, you prayed, if only he'd miss.

But every day, bruised and bled,

Violated, abused, and left for dead.

He hurt your body and hurt your heart,

A loving father - torn all apart.

          - by Pauline Marie Daley

             October 11, 2007