cruelty

your cruel ways 
are not for these tender hearts
we are born in love
and not to be broken
like horses
yoked to carts
to do your bidding

your twisted heart
is sad
and wasted
you’ve squandered 
our love
the very thing 
you seek
so desperately
as to have lost 
yourself

i pity you
and i grieve for us
for me
a good deserving girl
intent on pleasing
creative
joyful
unafraid

the lengths you went
to make me small
to make me squirm
under the weight 
of your abused power
and need to hurt
pain is the only love you know

you squeezed so hard
until we went limp
from life
from love
from recognizing
the face of our father, a husband
behind the cruel mask
a heart
too broken 
to love
kills