Andy DW Poet Free verse

Powerless

In an empty room sits a figure
A shadow of one’s self
A young boy beaten and ashamed
Over shadowed by the narcissist 

His cruel and unrelenting anger boils over
The chosen target in his sights
The boy sat alone in a blank room
Stripped of its contents in the name of love

The heavy footsteps coming up the stairs
Counting the steps, the creak of number 8
The lock unbolted, the door swings open
And there he stands, my father

A lunge forward, he grabs my wrist
The tight grip of his hand, cold and moist
Forcefully dragging me down the stairs, the boys legs hitting every step
Anticipation heightened, a shoe, a belt, a cane, a hand

The terrified boy crumbles
Tears fall, legs tremble
Fury evident on his face
Forced to my feet

Pulled down my shorts, bare skin on show
Fear on show as this man draws his hand back
The instant sting
A burning hot hand print

As this man towers over my small stature 
He draws back his arm
BANG! Again and again
The boys body collapses

The boy whales in pain 
Sensations reverberating on my skin
The burning begins to prickle
Tingling and sharp

He’s not satisfied with his work
The peripheral sees a boot heading my way
A connection in my ribs
Instantly gasping for every breath

A boy so weak used to give his abuser strength
His actions keep me quiet, keep me small and afraid
A choice to humiliate a defenceless boy
Left feeling disorientated, no anger in his voice, no emotion

He sees my pain, my tears
His hand reaches for mine
Just to drag me back to the quiet room where I’m his captive 
4 walls, a bottle of water and a bucket, click goes the door

Heavy footsteps disappear from earshot 
Silence feels heavy, feels safe and temporary 
Left with my own thoughts
Naked and beaten

Body turning from red to purple
Physical pain fades to a dull pain
Freedom to shed tears, to share my pain with my own thoughts
Permission to breathe in the silence

The next time could be worse
No excuses or reasons required
A child knows no different 
I’m to blame for being born

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