Family Life
by Henry Burt Stevens

he shoved her
she hit him
he hit her
she bit him

after a few weeks
it happened again
only this time
she didn't mark him

she called the cops
the cops came, looked
took him away
booked him into jail

in the home
her daughter 5
their daughter 2
witness and wait

she feeds and cleans them
but who washes their eyes
who cleans their ears
who erases noise and violence

they wonder where daddy is
they color and play
with their bible toys
knowing Jesus loves them

weeks later daddy comes home
everything is clean, nothing happened
he hugs the girls
all is serene

but it happens again
shouts screams
he push she push
cops come, take daddy

and the little girls
will never forget forever