Jeri Ogden
The girl use to pray for God to bring her a daddy,
but she doesn't anymore.
I was a girl that use to pray for God to bring her a daddy,
but I don't anymore.
I haven't since I watched him drag my mother down
the stairs and out the door.
She kicked and screamed at him,
but he wouldn't let her go,
She hit and punched him,
but he wouldn't let her go.
He leaned in close to her, said she was his,
and he ran the show.
I saw what happened to my mother in a movie
one time.
I saw my best friend fall in love with a man
like my father one time.
He hit her once and her lip bled red like fire,
she got out after that one time.
I never let a man get close enough to
see my kindest.
I'll never let a man get close enough to
experience my kindest.
I have to be sure that he doesn't
mistake it for weakness.
Copyright (c) 2004 by Jeri Ogden
Jeri Ogden studies with Kristin Kovacic
at CAPA, Pittsburgh Public Schools'
Creative and Performing Arts secondary school.