Calm Down

The plates break in The dishwasher The sound extremely Loud in her ears ‘Dad, please calm down’ She’d say yet he’d ignore her And carry on She’s standing in his office Paint splattered on carpet While he refuses to make her A new room ‘Dad, what is wrong with you’ When she learns how To ignore him in the future He starts talking ‘Dad, could you please be quiet’ He replies ‘Watch your tone’ And she goes silent and stiff When the screaming and yelling Gets too loud in her ears She screams back at him ‘Dad, calm down’ ‘Dad, what is wrong with you’ And over time she just says ‘What is wrong with you’ And ‘Leave me alone’ For the first time he’s silent For the first time she sees Regret in his eyes For the first time he sees no Tears in hers She doesn’t have to ask Will I ever be good enough for you She knows the obvious answer After while, she’ll return to him And he’ll say the usual to her His eyes turn cold and distant The tears will return to hers When will she ever learn She’s better off without him He’s better off without her