A Story

She was only 18
when she met the father
little did the child know
what the stars had in store

A business transaction
to say ‘I do'
one night's satisfaction
a lifetime to rue

Always a difficult child
people and rules defied
a child, troublesome and wild
grew into evil personified

Footloose and fancy free
until a child had begun
maybe a welcomed opportunity
had fate willed it to be a son

The infant became a burden
born to one so young
to care for without hurting
was a song to remain unsung

From onward the age of four
this child would be burned and battered
to silence the sound of laughter
her home would be a small dark cupboard

To challenge her rule
meant the sight of a hanger
even worse, to fail at school
invited the welts of yet more anger

To ensure humiliation was complete
and done with such malice and glee
she'd shave her daughter's head and repeat
with a witch's cackle, 'now no one will think you're pretty'

And if for nothing more
than sheer delight
the knuckles held in store
what gave the heart a fright

Then there was the lynch
from the famous dog chain
her enjoyment of each flinch
a guarantee of yet more pain

The aftermath
said to sooth
an ice cold bath
to hide the bruise

Short and fat, perhaps it didnt help
that she looked like a black olive in a wetsuit
the weights on her diving belt
had to hold down hundreds of pounds x two

The irony if you please
was in her profession
where she'd hatch her ideas
to take home and try on

The City of New York
from midnight ‘til eight
her officialdom of work
the irony of fate

A Social Worker for Child Welfare
sheltering infants with burns
laugh if you dare
the irony still churns

Flames on stove
took on whole new meaning
in hand would go
all ears deaf to screaming

Water boiled in kettle
small hand in kitchen sink
water inside metal
intended other than for drink

As liquid met with skin
small child slowly burned
eyes of sudden blind
backs of others turned

Punishments solely designed
to savage and control by fear
while others had parents who were kind
she was sorry to be here

Then one day at dawn
car stood and await
destination? a shelter for unwanted spawn
Come, we must not be late

You see, this child stole
the best years of her life
at the shelter would it unfold
the tale of a young girl's strife

There for the first time
did she tell
the truth about mama
her life of hell

Did anyone listen?
did they respond?
you tell me, when
six months on

Back home was she sent
no one asked if she wanted to go
perhaps it was good they meant
but little could they know

Now the cat was out of its bag
there would be a price to pay
you told all - on your head be it
as with spiteful venom she shaved away

Part of the child's punishment
for having been born
was to be dressed in a way
which ensured other kids' scorn

Bullied at school
abused at home
a childhood cruel
never to belong

One snowy day
refusing to look the fool
only this time off she went
less ugly booties to school

Behind were left
the shoes of a geek
aware there'd be punishment
though none of which she could speak

Sure enough on returning unbowed
stood the invitation to take leave again
why don't you go for a walk in the snow
only leave your shoes and coat please, never mind the pain

A small price to pay
for a tiny but defiant rebellion
yet at the end of the day
she'd not be cowed to submission

Such was her life
until the day she decided
the options were two
to a friend she confided

The choices are simple
either away from home I run
or my life I take
either way, with her I'm done

Having thus far survived for 15 years
she opted for the first
whatever the cause for future tears
she'd be damned if they'd quench this woman's thirst

In planning ahead, though not a lot
trying to find reason or cause
be everything this psychopath was not
and not everything she was

Such was the advice from an ex-con
one of the many men her mother ‘knew'
the Italian stallion, lovely John
who she paid for a good 'seeing to'

And so to hell this woman she sent
taking her on having said "no more"
off to the courts and foster homes she went
until the age of 18 when she closed the door

Paving the way with strength and love
in the many years since then
every day thanking her stars above
for having survived a mother's venom.
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