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| THE STATISTICS ON SEXUAL ABUSE BY FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS THE NATION IS DEVESTATING AND RECORDS INDICATE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES, AND ALOT OF TIMES IS NEVER REPORTED. THIS POEM REFLECTS MY PERCEPTION OF THE SORROW AND REGRET THE VIOLATOR MAY SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE. |
| TEARS STAIN THE PAGES AS I TRY TO WRITE HOW DO I ASK FORGIVENESS FOR WHAT I DID? THE WORDS BLIND MY MIND AS IF THEY WERE LIGHTS BUT FILTERED BY THE IMAGES I HAVE HID. IMAGES OF ALL THE TIMES YOU SUFFERED BY MY HAND THE INNOCENCE OF SUCH A SWEET YOUNG LASS THAT ENDURED PAIN AND ANQUISH FROM A MAN WHO SHOULD HAVE SHELTERED YOU FROM YOUR PAST. WORDS WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT OF ALL THE MANY SINS I TRANSGRESSED UPON YOU IF I COULD ONLY GO BACK TO THE VERY FIRST NIGHT AND TREAT YOU LIKE THE LITTLE CHILD, WITH EYES OF BLUE. BUT MY TIME IS OVER AND TO GOD I DID REPENT HE FORGAVE ALL THE INDECENT THINGS THAT TRANSPIRED JUST IN TIME BEFORE MY DAYS ON EARTH WERE SPENT HE TOUCHED MY HEART AND I REALIZED MY TRUE DESIRE. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE MOVED ON WITH BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE WAY YOU CARE FOR THE LITTLE ONES YOU LOVE SO WELL THE DESIRE I SEE DOWN IN YOUR HEART, A NEWER PATH TO TROD. PRIDE FEELS MY BEING AS I SEE HOW YOU'VE EXCELLED. INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL PERSON WITH TALENTS RARE LOVING JESUS EVERYDAY AND STRIVING TO SUCCEED LIKE THROWING PEARLS IN WITH THE SWINE, YOU HAVE DARED TO BECOME SUCH A DAUGHTER, WITH PEACE I BELIEVE. THERE IS NO WAY TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THE PAST IF THAT LITTLE TWINGE CREEPS UP FROM BEHIND ONCE A YEAR REMEMBER THAT JESUS HAS GIVEN YOU A NEW LIFE THAT WILL LAST AND BEFORE LONG ALL YOUR DAYS WILL BE FILLED WITH CHEER. I LOVE YOU, DADDY |
| FOR ALL I DID |
| WRITTEN BY SHIRLEY BARR JUNE 10, 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
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| SONG: 'EMPTINESS' SEQUENCED AND PERMISSION GIVEN BY |
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