Dear Me
         you are loved
                 you are smart
                        you are beautiful
Dear Me
        he didn't deserve you
             a real man will never raise a hand
                sometimes happily ever after takes awhile
Dear Me
         it's okay to cry
               it's okay to hurt
                     put the knife down
Dear Me
         I wish someone saw
            I wish I could help you
               I wish I could hug you and tell you it'll be okay
       But Dear Me your time has past,
let me move on
                      let me put you to rest
                                         go to sleep life is hard
                                                            ­but now it's my turn

you taught her
to shut up

to keep quiet

to know her place

to nod and agree

and to never, ever
disobey you.



when the police
came knocking
on your door

and they asked her
where you had been,

you expected her
to state your alibi.



you expected her
to speak up for you,

but you had taught her
to never speak at all.



that was your
fatal mistake.