Daddy's Little Girl
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You can overcome. You can overcome the darkest of nights and achieve the brightest of days
Poet Michael Ellis From the Book Summertimes and Monday Mournings
She was eighteen
Graduation Day
Valedictorian
The Girl got Straight A’s
Mother says, 'I’m proud of you.
Your hard work is gonna pay.
I know it's been a long road
But you've carried your load."
The girl looks over her shoulders
And scans through the crowd
In the back of the auditorium she sees her Father
Who is just as proud.
As the tassel falls from the air
She recalls the secret they all share.
The night he ruined her world
The night she wasn’t Daddy’s Little girl.
Ten Years Earlier]
Daddy tiptoes past the Grandfather clock
Through the kitchen
past the icebox.
There were ten steps to the room down the hall
He didn’t see himself in the mirror on the wall
Nor did he hear his conscience call.
He turned the doorknob as quietly as he could
With the door half opened there he stood
He looked at the one he promised the world
So Beautiful- So Peaceful- Daddy’s Little Girl
((The Clue))
She searched his wallet- the whole thing through
Credit card receipts—his pockets too
For a trace of the other woman
Some kind of clue
He had to leave at 3 am- Another emergency
“When I get back honey, I’ll explain the urgency.”
And sometimes you’re just a clue away
Pictures on the mantle piece show sunny days.
The wedding seemed like just yesterday.
But over the house hover the clouds of gloom
And it’s gonna rain real soon
When you learn that the other woman
Is in the other room.
Mama’s Precious Pearl
Daddy’s Little Girl
Daddy closes the door and takes a step or two
Convinced that Mama doesn’t have a clue
He considers the consequence.
What would happen if she knew?
A night lights shines in the darkness-
The color BLUE
Father kneels on the side of her bed
And awakens the child with a kiss on her head
With one hand he strokes her hair
With the other hand he touches her - there
She tries to restrain his hand.
He says, When you’re older you’ll understand.”
She gave a fight
But he was the stronger one
And there in the night
The wicked thing was done.
She cried as quietly as she could
As tears streamed from her face
And twice that night--- she changed her pillow case
Sometimes you stand on the edge of the world
Just be strong Daddy’s Little Girl.
Morning comes and Mama knocks on the door of the shower
“Girl, You been in there two hours.”
In the hamper Mama sees blood on the sheets
Picks it up and smells the scent of her sweet.
Mama opens up the shower door—shows her the blood stains
The girls chokes on her words- Mother I just can’t explain
“Babe, tell Mother what happened to you?”
Mother’s eyes told her she already knew.
Sometimes a heartbreak doesn’t give a referral
No more Daddy’s Little Girl.
Mother sits on the sofa and looks back
At ten years of marriage
How could she abort it now?
Diagnosis: Miscarriage
The clock stops at 5:23 and Father turns the key
He opens the door "How are you my sweet?"
Seeing her reach for the bloodied sheet
“Babe, It’s just blood—This is outrageous
You know these girls they go through stages.
It could have been someone from her class
I told you the girl was just too fast.”
She is no longer your daughter and
I am no longer your wife.
Your bags are by the door
Now get the Hell out of my life.”
Barely bearing the weight of frustration:
“You can explain at the Police Station.”
Epilog
When the pain is like a hurricane
And it leaves your mind in a whirl
What you gonna do without that man?
The sun will shine again
You still have Mama’s Little Girl.
Copyright © Michael Ellis | Year Posted 2016
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