Red Roses On The Label...

Nights of terror... screams and shouts

The scent of alcohol and fear

I wanted to save my mother, and kill my father

I was too little, and he was a raging demon

Daylight seemed eons away

Morning light did nothing to erase mother's bruises

I stayed in bed until the creak and thump of his wooden-leg was gone

Hurried breakfast, and off to school

I slept through lunch, and couldn't focus on fractions

He was funny, and a nice guy 'till he drank too much

Which was every day

They all participated... some through acceptance

The bar-man who unlocked the door, for opening round at 7 a.m.

His cronies, buying drinks

The foreman who held his nose, and looked the other way

The cops who let him sleep it off on the side of the road

My mother, because she didn't have the strength to leave him

And me, because I was too little...