by Candice Ann Moraga

You may not have abandoned me
The way your father did you
But you don’t participate in my life –
That much I know is true
Maybe you never learned
Just how to be a father
But it seems to me
That you’ve “checked out” –
Like you don’t even bother

There’s still a little girl
Wandering in the snow
Searching for a home –
A safe place she can go
She doesn’t want to go back
Because she’s too afraid –
This is the life you’ve given me
With choices that you’ve made

I’m not trying to hurt you –
I just want back my soul –
The pieces that you’ve taken –
The pieces that you stole
You may not want to step in
To the father role –
I just want to be healed –
I just want to be whole

There’s still a little girl
Wandering in the snow
Searching for a home –
A safe place she can go
She doesn’t want to go back
Because she’s too afraid –
This is the life you’ve given me
With choices that you’ve made

Your neglect has been so painful
Worse than a kick or slap
An enduring situation –
It’s no sudden mishap
I’m your only daughter –
How could you forget my birthday?
Finally I scribble down
The words I needed
To say

There’s still a little girl
Wandering in the snow
Searching for a home –
A safe place she can go
She doesn’t want to go back
Because she’s too afraid –
This is the life you’ve given me
With choices that you’ve made

She doesn’t want to go back
Because she’s too afraid