A Poem For Joey
by HKL

I'm afraid of you
You think it's respect
You hit me
You think it's discipline
You abuse me
You think that's parenthood
I am not a son to you
I am a punching bag
I'm a piece of furniture that cannot feel
I am lifeless
Once you cared
Once I mattered
And you would never hit me
In fact as I recall
You beat up anyone who hurt me
You were a father back then
Back then you were my friend
But now you are my enemy
Yet I still put on a happy face
To make everything seem all right
So no one will know the truth
Of my life at home with you
They don't see the bruises
I conceal them
They don't see the scars
Because I always hide them
They don't see the tears I shed
Because I quickly brush them away
They don't see the pain
That fills me day after day
I wear a mask
Of joy and laughs
So no one sees my inner feelings
The dread and horror that fill my mind
When I smell the alcohol on your breath
And hear the anger in your voice
What happened to you dad?
Why did you change?
Why'd you become this awful person?
Why'd you become this evil monster?
Why'd you become my greatest enemy?
Why do you now hurt and abuse me?
What have I done to make you so mad?
What have I done to make things like this?
Maybe it's my fault maybe it's yours
Who's responsible?
And does anyone care?
But no longer now can I dwell
For now hear comes the ringing school bell
I have to get to class now
And lie another day
Pretend to be all smiles
And hide the frothing pain
The bruises you gave me are hidden
All scars are concealed
All tears are brushed away
But once again I'll have to lie
About why I'm limping today