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Home > All Poetry > A Poem To …

A Poem To … This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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By Anonymous
Photo credit: Jessica P., Bethel Park, PA
This is a poem to john
I do not capitalize the name
Of a hypocrite
Of a racist
Of a let-down
Of a screaming lunatic
She says that this is not my battle to fight
That I shouldn’t hate him for what he did to her
I nod
I do not capitalize the name
Of an abusive husband
Of a self-centered man
Of a liar
When I call home I do not ask to speak to you
What would I say? Things I do not mean?
So, pass the phone
I do not capitalize the name
Of a man who won’t help himself
Of an abandoner
Who will come to my graduation? people ask
Well, all of the family members that matter, of course
But not him
I do not capitalize the name
Of a father
This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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This article has 22 comments. Post your own!

Chrissy_L said...
Aug. 28 at 8:09 pm:

This is so raw and so beautiful.

 
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SarahB said...
Jul. 10 at 4:04 am:

it's definitely raw.
i think that so much truth comes out of this. for me father is an obligated name, but an utterly empty meaning to mine. i'm really glad you have the confidence to post this because it really is a lovely piece of work.

 
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guerababy said...
Jul. 9 at 5:32 pm:

wow! this is amazing! u can feel the emotion a lot!

 
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Alex H. said...
Jul. 8 at 2:35 am:

its funny but i relate. my "dad" and i use that term lightly. was an abusive man, a cheater, an alcholic, and an all around B@$T@RD. but where as your mom, told you not to hate him, my mom encouraged it. but my mom is my hero.

 
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LilJ<3 said...
Jul. 7 at 11:34 pm:

This touched me. I could just feel the emotion that was screaming from this poem. No one should have to feel what you feel. Ever. But im glad u put ur heart and soul into this poem and let your emotions shine through. I pray that u find happiness in your life. Someone one who will truely love u and care for u as others have lacked. Continue to write and give hope to others...hang in there..

 
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skye0114 said...
Jul. 7 at 11:25 pm:

that was amazing and im sorry....

 
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Yolanda G. said...
Jul. 7 at 9:18 pm:

This was beautiful and it's great because we feel the emotion, and thank you so much for not holding back, or being scared to open up to us, i know it is helping others that are going through what you are.

 
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one_of_a_kind_girl said...
Jul. 7 at 5:12 am:

amazing. i can sense the feeling in it.

 
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annexgrey said...
Jul. 6 at 11:02 am:

This is simply Amazing
Sad, but amazing

 
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Sitav N. said...
Jul. 5 at 12:45 am:

writing is such a medicine, arent u glad u've discovered it?

 
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AshaMidnightOlympian said...
Jul. 5 at 12:15 am:

I've dealt with depression, but it's nothing compared to what you've been through. I feel the truth in your words, and a lot of people don't want to hear the sad truth, but it doesn't change reality. Keep screaming out your opinions. Some people don't want to listen to what's happening all around them, but I don't want people to lie to me so I always feel safe and happy. You told it like it is, and I truly respect you for that. Plus if we didn't know despair, we wouldn... (more »)

 
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lovehate29 said...
Jul. 4 at 7:40 pm:

This is very good. I really like this. It is very deep and truly beautiful. You have a lot of talent.

~~If you have time, will you please check out my work? Comment and rate if you wish.

 
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hereforyou said...
Feb. 5 at 10:17 pm:

wow, your very good. if this is true: hang on, it wont last much longer if your about to graduate, so somewhere far..but keep writing it helps you through the darkest of times.

 
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Tweedle Dee said...
Sept. 23, 2008 at 11:35 pm:

wow. i cant imagine that my dad is awesome it must be terrible. so sorry. just hold on though, it'll get better. keep writting, it helps anything!

 
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BrAnDy_XoxO said...
Sept. 19, 2008 at 5:57 pm:

WOW! written really well, i can feel your anger in this poem. I love how the poem jumps out and screams out the words when your reading it. very good <3

 
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Da one said...
Sept. 5, 2008 at 7:45 pm:

I feel your anger and pain in your writing and to me that is the quality of a good writer. I went through the same problem and like me I hope you can cope with it because one day your going to be in charge. I hope your mother can find somebody way better then him. Like my mom I know she deserve better.( tell her that for me)

 
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Alix221 said...
Sept. 5, 2008 at 2:53 pm:

All I can say is wow...so well written, gave me chills.

 
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EmilyOliveP said...
Aug. 28, 2008 at 7:50 pm:

I'm so glad people have been reading this -- it has stood out in my mind since I first read it two months ago. I feel very much the same way towards my own father so the poem is a comfort to me.

 
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socksrox said...
Aug. 14, 2008 at 2:41 am:

i love it! like the others said, i love how u say it just how it is! but in this poem, it's like you can feel the emotion you were feeling when you wrote it.

 
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keesha said...
Aug. 6, 2008 at 9:14 pm:

i luv this poem it reminds me of the things that went on in my life wit my mother and da two kids he had wit her and don't even talk to them.too much info sry but i luv the way u tell it lyk it is

 
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baroodio02 said...
Aug. 6, 2008 at 4:10 pm:

this is very beautifully written. very sad, but beautiful. You convey your emotions in a wonderful way.

 
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MewMew2 said...
Aug. 4, 2008 at 7:43 pm:

Excellent job, keep telling it like it is.

 
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