From Afar

Headed for home on a greyhound bus With four years of freedom behind me Back to the homestead where my father ruled Trepidation for what I know will be Rules I never followed before I went away Curfews lay broken at the door Constant yelling and degrading remarks he made Nicknamed stupid, lazy and whore The bus pulls to the station where I’ll hop a train My eyes tear as I gather up my bags Through the turnstile to the ladies room in time I’m crying as I light up a *** I take a nip out and drink it down fast I think there must be some other place The situations desperate-, me returning home It’s gonna be a slap in the face A second nip I took just to help me think If he would give me $200 that would work I would leave his home just like that And a cheap car so I could get to work Remember daddy how I always drove you insane Trust me I haven’t at all changed I like to stay out late and sleep all day That will make him come unhinged I caught the train home relieved I wasn’t going to stay In two weeks time he lost his mind I made my proposal to him the following day Mother said he went off for a car to find As I drove away with money in hand And driving my old beat up car I hollered out the window “I love you” And whispered “only from afar”