​Darlene Young​

My Daughter’s Abusive Boyfriend

by Darlene Young 

 

talks only of what she ought to be, could be

with a little work, looks

beyond her when he talks to her, doesn’t

like her clothes, adjusts her posture, shows

her photos of other girls, better girls,

smarter and fitter girls, sets

goals for her, promises the new dress, the trip

as soon as she has changed to be right

says he sometimes can’t

bear the sight of her how she

disgusts him and now sometimes she curls

into herself for days, gorgeous, wild petals

folded in and drooping on herself

so heavy she

finds it hard to stand up

and I say stand up I say

this is ridiculous can’t you see

what’s going on and she says Mom

he’s no different than you and I shocked

say I would never, ever, speak to you

that way and she says No

she says Mom, I mean

it’s exactly how you talk

to yourself did you think

I couldn’t hear