Mommy Dearest

You’ll never know what you did to me,

Making me put up with his brutality.

I can’t understand how you can claim to love,

And know of his violence, pushes, and shoves.

You sold me to him and closed your eyes,

To feed your alcoholism, the part of you I despise.

I guess I just wasn’t worth anything to you,

You proved that by the things you put me through.

Three hundred dollars every two weeks,

Was all it took to close your eyes to my weeps.

When I needed you most, you’ weren’t there at all,

And they still keep asking, “Why do you fall?”

So fall and fall, I’ll continue to do,

Here’s to you, Mommy Dearest, because this one’s for you!!

Heather L. Johnson

August 2003