Sins of the Father, Forgiven

 
This is for all the anger I could never feel
After I had a temper tantrum at age six
And then for the pain he put me through
To make sure I never whispered
Even a breath of anger ever again

He took my voice from me
Ripped it right out of my throat
In an act of hostility and revenge
I was silenced when he was done beating me
Sentenced to a life without my full faculty

Of emotions: disappointment, anger
No longer an option for me to express
Because children must be seen and not heard
So I folded into the dark corners of the wall
As to disappear…

Voiceless
Crippled
For more than a few decades
Left to face the consequences
When abuse is normalized

…

But the time has come to now forgive

…

I will no longer be a victim of your assault
I free myself from your once-violent intentions

I release you
And cut the cord