Where's Daddy?

Little girl looking for daddy

Running in the dark night

I look in the beer parlor

Looking with all my might.

Think, little girl

Where else would he be?

He goes upstairs to buy smokes

Let's go and see.

Big hands grab little girl

He whispers in her ear

In Native tongue

Words muddled I hear.

"Be still little girl,

We might be heard,

Be quiet now

Don't say a word."

Booze on his breath

He probes inside

I just want to run away

I want to hide.

Think little girl

What can you do???

Think of something

That's been taught to you.

Little girl has great imagination

"Look, there's daddy" I say

He releases me

And I run away.

There's pain in the middle

How I hate this old man

I run to the boat

As fast as I can.

How does a four year old

Relate to anyone of the old man

Just forget about it

Do the best you can.

Twenty year old standing

Watching the same old man

He's had a heart attack

Was it in God's plan.

Praying that he just quickly die

Be punished for what he did.

I release this secret

That was so well hid.

Facing upwards now

"Lord, before you take him away

I leave with him the blame

Of that awful day."

He takes one last breath

When my prayer is done

He closes his eyes in death

I no longer need to run.

Freedom from seeing him around

Freedom from the guilt and shame

I release it all

As I say his name.

-MJ-

(c) July 4, 2002