Robbed

Happy to separate, easy to go
Hush don’t cry, just let it go
You’re old enough that you should know
It’s not your place to say no
It’s his and hers not yours or theirs
It’s their lives, their choices, their problems, their cares.

I see your fear, I know you’re alone
When will you learn you’re on your own
Adjust, adapt, learn a new way
It’s up to you now that Dad’s gone away
There’s no one to shield you from her wrath
Understand safety’s a thing of the past
You’ll be a victim of transferred hate
You must fight back before it’s too late.

The chains that held you from 9 to 5
Now encircle your whole life
He’s not coming home to set you free
Survival depends on how slowly you bleed.

You’ve got six years to go til the judge hears your say
Ten years until you can run away
But don’t worry, there may be less time than you thought
You’ll outgrow her strength as the battle is fought
And not even social workers can ignore
When you stagger through the Emergency door
Your arm is broken, your bruises are black
Here’s your chance to never go back.

Maybe if Poppa hadn’t died
Maybe if Uncles didn’t sell the house
Maybe if Dad had gotten a job
Maybe your future wouldn’t have been robbed.