Don't hit me again daddy

Child Abuse

My small hands crack

As I use them

To cover my head and face;

the thin belt is much worse

than the thick - 

it whips more and leaves deeper welts

Funny how my mind

takes off - leaving me behind

I think of how my body will

look with the new 'stripes'

I pretend I'm a tiger 

in the mirror - when 

the swelling goes down

and I wear my pain

for only me to see...

Author's Note

Imagine this.
Tear it up.

Reviews

[Zoya]

Painful to even read...
It's not an easy task to leave the reader teary-eyed, only after making them read I guess a poem of about 10-12 lines. You did that easily, or maybe not so easily, idk. Whatever it is, this poem is quite heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing.

[Tony Jordan]

Thank you for your words Zoe.

[Zoya]

no problem

[Izzy]

Wow! So sad, and yet so true. In this world, there are many kids who suffer. You captured their feelings, thoughts so well

[...]

Funny like people can share same experience. In my case is was it my mom. When you are small everything looks so scary even your mom. I was cry lot in my bed room. Wonderful honest write. Thanks for sharing.

[Celestial Jester]

Simple but profound. Child abuse makes or breaks a person.. curious how they turned out. Became a tiger and prowling the night, it seems.

[Tony Jordan]

Oh worse than a tiger - a Leo - a LION - RAWWWWRR
lol
Thanks CJ :))
You da best !

[Black Rose]

Pain is reflected in every word of this piece. Poor child who got this lifetime scar not only on body but on mind and heart as well. I like the part where you showed the optimistic side of the pessimistic situation-i pretend that I am a tiger in the mirror atleast the child won't give up. Imagining this is only tearing me. You showed this unfortunate side in a graceful way. :)

[Diane]

So what I am about to say isn't very poetic. I would like to take the belt wielder and shove his weapon of choice of his a*s.
Okay, now that I feel better, I would like to say that this was very hard to read. The poem its self was well written and flowed "painfully" well.
If this poem was about you, someone you know, or just to get the word out, I would like you to know it took more pain to write then it did to read. Thoughts and prayer are with you. xoxo

[Tabby Mac]

This is a powerful write. Painful, heart wrenching...the worse is that this has happened and still does. Hard subject... you captured it.
Tabby

[Najam Us Saher]

Heart wrenching. This poem is filled with emotions.

[Carol Cashes]

Only a child would "pretend" to be a tiger with stripes. This was graphic and real. Well done.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Don't have to imagine it; I was raised by a generation of slappers, punchers, belt wielders and, even, metal hanger whippers.
Your poem stuns--and reminds.
Meaningful work, Tony!

[Tony Jordan]

Sorry to hear that Jimmy.
I appreciate you sharing that.
Thank you.

[a112yearoldman]

Very heartbreaking. The pain so deep inside is so much more than the exterior, for it will remain...and return....and blind the soul.