Bruises

She goes to school everyday,
With bruises everywhere.
No one knows her secrets.
She's not sure they'd care.

If anyone found out, she says,
They'll kill her on the spot.
She'd become an orphan,
If Mama's taken by a cop.

They tell her it's all her fault;
She can't do anything right.
She can tell as the door slams shut
She'll mess up again tonight.

Bad day at work for both of them,
So Daddy goes to the bar.
That's where he goes when things get bad,
So Mama walks him to his car.

When she comes back, there's hell to pay;
She runs and screams and cries.
Mama grabs her by the hair.
"Mama! Please stop!" She yelled that night.

When it's over, she lies on the floor.
She feels nothing but the stone.
She hears Mama's Honda drive away.
At last, she's all alone.

The cops come by; the secrets out!
Daddy told 'em about that night.
They took her to a brand new home.
Her daddy saved her life.

2006