Reflection

Walking down the street, catch a glimpse,
corner of my sight, distracted, off guard.
Childhood all but vanished, blink of an eye,
seething with shame, struggle, fight so hard.
That hurts, why are you yelling, stop hitting,
I did what I was told, please God let it stop.
Welts, bruises, splintered marrow, all over,
do I deserve this hell, no one does, surely not.
Severe head trauma, mental as well as physical,
destruction, deconstruction, degraded, defaced.
Emotional scars never quite heal, they just fade,
the scars I wear will not let me forget or replace.
Pupil meets pupil, monster ignites, child cowers,
what did I do, please tell me, I can make it right.
Eye contact made, mistake, crunch, dizzy, black,
as I lay crying, silent prayer, God please, let me die tonight.
Snap, back to the street where memory blurred,
catch the culprit responsible, reflection in a window.
Across the street a father shows his love,
much like mine did, gladiator, landing his blows.
As I watch, palms bead, twitch, I fidget,
I can't let this atrocity go on, make a choice.
Tag number, make, model, video phone, 911 I dial,
caught, convicted, child liberated, through my pain.
Advocate, Voice.