Teen Ink

   Scary Lessons
(Be Careful)

That slap you just dealt your daughter
Will not be forgotten.
The violence behind it remains in your
angry mind
racing thoughts
and tingling finger-tips.
Your pounding heart and panting breath
Release your tension and
Relief swarms throughout your body
For you have just allowed all of your problems to be put on someone else.
- Not simply shared with your daughter
But beaten into her.
The frail, trembling body curled upon that purple bedspread
Sobs for
freedom
And forgiveness for a crime never committed.
Don't make your daughter serve the sentence for your offense.
Life may not be fair
But it's not that unfair.
Yet.
So please don't help it become that way.
Abuse does not pause when you do.
It is a permanent bruise
that stops only when you stop
- Forever.
And in case you were wondering,
Forever begins today.

by K. G., Weston, MA