With brick dust on my back,
And my chin in the air,

I had the sun in my eyes,
And you weren’t fighting fair,

It was a war of attrition,
12 years or 12 rounds,

The battle already lost,
But the bell never sounds,

So I stay on my toes,
Keep sharp, stick and move,

Feel that chip on my shoulder
I have something to prove,

The sweet taste of copper,
Blood dried out like rust,

Only me in my corner,
The only person I trust,

So I swing for the fences,
But prepare for the fall,

For you truly earn nothing,
Without risking it all.

I love the way you are... so confidently you.

The way you know my deep blue soul and pretend I don't know you at all.

The way you refuse to see me and yet, time and time again, open the door.

It's the way you light my cigarettes that I adore.

The way you admit I am completely out of my mind and hold me sweetly as if to say you accept it unconditionally.

The way you love sad songs and share them with me.

The way you playfully point your guns at me when I spit fire.

It's the way you sing proudly out of tune that I admire.

The way you make Dad-jokes and chuckle at mine too.

I love the way you are...so confidently you.

Dear Daddy

You put your hand on my leg in the movies.

I wanted you to stop.

You hugged me.

I wanted you to stop.

You smiled at me.

I wanted you to stop.

Imagine being afraid of a stranger,

Imagine that stranger was your father.

Signed your 8 year old daughter.