An Abusive Father

As confidential as a prayer whispered from a child's lips, brought out of anguish from a little one's heart, despair branding his mind because he could not understand why his father was an alcoholic. Being so afraid of someone he loved, just didn't seem right - not even to his childish mind. Getting hit for not doing anything really wrong, maybe just laughing with his brother in the same room as Dad while he was watching T.V. What was the matter with that? Wishing he could talk with his Dad without getting a lecture on being bad, or put down, or told to clean his room. Why must his Dad always ignore his right to be heard, to be listened to without being condemned? A little heart so full of love for his Dad, afraid of showing it, because he would be hurt. Knowing his father was abused when he was a child gives some understanding to his innocent mind. But why can't his Dad stop and understand he's hurting a little one just like his father used to do? Can't he remember the pain, hurt, humiliation - the loss of his self-worth? Why must he persist doing as his father did? It was never right and can't be justified no matter how he tries, yet saying, 'My father would've socked me in the jaw, if I did that at your age! ' It's amazing, Dad, how blind you can be, as you continue hurting me. Dad you can stop the pattern that drunkenness started long ago, and learn to teach me how to grow up normal. For one day I'll have children of my own and I'd rather love, hug, keep them close, than do what you are doing to me, or had done to you. As confidential as a prayer whispered from a child's lips, brought out of anguish from a little one's heart. Despair branding his mind because he could not understand why his father was an alcoholic as he cried his bruised body and mind to sleep.