this is why...

 
the only time I ever came to blows was in 6th grade
the popular girl used to bully me...daily
I never said a word
just silently took it
until one day she mocked my father
and I nearly ripped the hair off her pretty blonde head
got sent to the principal's office for my trouble
...completely unrepentant
he tried to tell me "we don't beat people up"
I said "maybe not
but you don't stop other crap from happening either
never stopped her from bullying me"
when asked why I never spoke up...I shrugged
and he asked "then...why now?"
I looked him straight in the eye
an act I rarely engaged in
and told him how she'd disrespected daddy
made fun of his disability
I was released & she got called in
it never happened again...
...talking about daddy, that is
...she never let up on the bullying
I pick my battles
kids all knew daddy was a forbidden subject
fuck with me...but never my father
because I love him more than can be expressed
certainly more than myself
I'll take a punch in his defense
he taught me things only daddy's girls will understand
...daddy's girls are strong
hella difficult to control without our permission
our fathers taught us more than knowing right from wrong
they taught us how to be fighters
to proudly show the steel in our spines
...and what love should really look like
because they've shown us in every word & gesture
so we can more easily spot a man who means danger...
...before he's become a problem
(sometimes trouble will still sneak under the radar)
daddy raised a tough girl...
...with a gentle nature
I'm grateful
I'd never pick a fight...but I'm also not backing down
daddy didn't raise a coward
so here's to the fathers who teach their daughters
how to love...
how to hold our own...
how to be strong
daddy's girls are truly blessed
...because we were raised by the best