when she was six
her father told her
to stay inside
& not ride her bike
she didn't listen
& broke her wrist
her father said to do what she was told
from now on

when she was eleven
her father told her to go to sleep
she didn't listen
& stayed up listening to her parent's fight all night
she came out of her room
& pleaded them to stop fighting
he told her that she was the reason they were
& to go back to sleep
like I told you to

when she was thirteen
her father told her to stop cutting
she didn't listen
& continued to make more scars
her father lied saying they were accidents
to any & every social services worker
he beat her
for not listening

when she was sixteen
her father told her to just
**** herself & leave him alone
she decided to listen
& finally took the pills when he wasn't looking
leaving a note that said

"I finally listened."
a.c.