WAITING FOR.

A GIRL IN 1950S LONDON AND HER ABUSIVE FATHER.

Enid waits
in her room
shivering

listening
for the time
and the sound

her dad leaves
home for work
her thin cloth

white nightdress
providing
no close warmth

her body
screams with pain
discipline

disciplined
her dad said
half hour back

beating her
when he's gone
she'll breakfast

(her mother
will provide)
but for now

she just waits
by the door
listening

feeling cold
her stomach
now groaning

she'll not tell
anyone
but Benny

the boy who
lives downstairs
will ask her

had breakfast?
and he'll look
for bruises

of colours
and he'll know
her father

has had her
she listens
the old white

radio
plays music
some Mozart

then its off
and silence
she cringes

holds herself
then he's gone
the door slams

she opens
her room door
and peers out

her mother
by the stove
one black eye

and thick lip
in the sink
water goes

from the tap
drip drip drip.