Not for the faint of heart. ABC Wednesday is a new prompt for me; I found it via a fellow poet, Nanka. Click on her link and bask in the glow! Peace, Amy
D is For…
D is for Daddy, whose Damnable acts
nearly Destroyed her confidence as a woman
Doubt plagued her every move
When asked why, she’d mumble, “Dunno”
(because she truly Didn’t)
Down the road, through many years
her journey brought her to Divine intervention
No, not Jesus and the bloody bath of redemption
Nothing as Dimly simple as that
But the Delicacy of therapists who
helped her Dig Deep, because
they knew she had the Determination to
sort it out, sort of and finally to her satisfaction
Death took him years ago. Doubtless
he Died believing himself spotless, blameless
and in some Damned way, a victim
But she stands as a witness to Dreams fulfilled
after going mano-a-mano with that Devil
whose name is self-Doubt, unearned guilt
(c) 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
ladynimue
Kudos for this wonderful write !
*bows to thee*
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you so much, nimue. Blessings to thee! Amy
RJ Clarken
Wow! You were right – not for the faint of heart. Powerful stuff, my friend. And I’m glad you won over self-Doubt, which is probably one of the toughest battles one can fight.
Sharp Little Pencil
Everyone will see that the “she” is “me.” I only wrote in third person to save my sister the trouble of yelling at me about how Dad was a saint. I keep telling her, this is what happened to ME, I’m not speaking for anyone else!! And yes, winning that battle saved my life. Thanks, RJ.
Nanka
That is a lot of D-words in you poem!! Made an interesting read and in your inimitable style. 🙂
Glad to see you at ABCW and surely you will enjoy it there 🙂
Sylvia Kirkwood
Lots of D words for the Day and a very moving, sad post! Welcome to ABC Wednesday!
Sylvia
ABC Team
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sylvia! Found you through Nanka, and can’t wait for tomorrow! I must warn you, I will only submit when I feel truly inspired. But the planets were certainly in alignment for this letter to speak to me… Amy
Dina
I’m glad you joined the ABC group. Welcome, Sharp Little Pencil.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Dina. I have been on seven sites so far, only one of whom I previously knew. I love experiencing new poets and artists! Amy
Paul Andrew Russell
Hi Amy,
I had one of those for a father too, although I got off lightly compared to someone else I love.
Very nice piece of writing.
Paul
Sharp Little Pencil
Paul, sorry to hear that, for both of you. It’s so common, and unlike the ooga-boogah letters they send home in kids’ backpacks here in the States (whenever a child molester is released, they send home a flyer with his name and address so folks can harass him, rather than teaching their kids about Stranger Danger, etc). It’s usually someone in one’s own family or close circle of friends, and more than 90% of the time, it’s a man who self-identifies as straight, not gay.
Thank you for your kind words. Amy
Debbie
Thank you, Amy, as always, for being real and you!
Sharp Little Pencil
D is for Debbie, who is Darling and Dear. You are a brave one to read that! Thanks, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Powerful and empowering, Amy. I especially love your last stanza.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, thank you. Hard to write, that one, and I imagine, hard to read as well…
Kim Nelson
I would have to write this during G week. And I would not have to veil with the third person because he was an every-granddaughter abuser. Perhaps your dad and my grandfather are enjoying the same corner in the afterlife! 😉
You tackled the topic with brilliance and finesse.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, truly, thank you. You truly understand the necessity of third-person on occasion – I also didn’t link this one to Facebook, because the one who might have her feelings hurt reads my stuff from there.
Now, about that corner… hmmm… hadn’t really dealt with that yet! Take care, and many thanks. Amy
Joseph Harker
Heavy stuff. But well-written heavy stuff, and a good set of D words… there were others you could have chosen, and I’m glad you went with the ones you did. I especially liked “that Devil whose name is self-Doubt”… indeed!
Sharp Little Pencil
RE: The word “road not taken”: Oh, Joseph, you know me so well!
I miss seeing your work since leaving Asides. Think I’ll bop on by your constellation and see what’s up. Since the move, I’ve been writing a poem a day most days in between cleaning up the mess from the movers, hanging pictures on the walls, etc. Hectic, but we LOVE our new home, Madison, WI. Thanks again for coming by, Joseph, and peace to you and yours. Amy
Tumblewords
Excellent piece, to be sure.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much. I know it was hard to read, too. I’ll stop by your blog now. Thanks again, A
timkeen40
I don’t know why some think fatherhood is a right to be overbearing and cruel.
Great poem as always!
http://timkeen40.wordpress.com
Sharp Little Pencil
The guy in question? My dad. It was a matter of probably having been subjected to the same stuff in military school. He was the littlest guy in his class and I’m sure he was easy pickings for the bullies… it doesn’t excuse it, but it’s the only theory that makes sense, as he was otherwise cold and distant as a father…
Took me years to forgive him, and that was long after his death. But forgiveness is possible… with a lot, a LOT of therapy. Thanks, Tim. Amy
Rajesh
Yeah, this is very cool.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Rajesh. Amy
Roger Green
This is vaguely familiar terrain, with my father and my sister worried about his soul 10 years ago.
well done, and welcome.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Sharp Little Pencil
Roger, many thanks. It was tough to write, but tougher to live through. Still writing in the third person for now… I am so glad I found your site through Nanka. Peace, Amy
jabblog uk
‘unearned guilt’ – what a telling phrase but now you’ve discovered there is no cause for your guilt. You were sinned against, not sinning.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, “unearned guilt” is something you eventually can get rid of… but it takes work. One also tends to recognize unearned guilt in others…
Jingle
creative D post.
Happy ABC Wednesday, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
You, too, Jing! Amy
Wanda
Very touching and deep subject that was written with inspired words. I love that even after such a trial one can fine the freedom of forgiveness.
Welcome to ABC – I’m not a Poet, but I am an Artist… And you have a wonderfully creative mind.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wanda, I skipped over to your blog and loved the pictures, especially the watercolor of your dear, departed Sam. And Bridget is a ringer for a little Fox Terrier I grew up with who was named Peggy. A mellower mini-dog never existed! I love photography and wish I had your knack!
Thanks for your kind words. Forgiveness IS possible, after a whole bunch of therapy (and crying and punching stuff!). Peace, Amy
Dick
Those Ds are doing damn good work here, Amy. Each one sunk deep into this dark ditty.
Sharp Little Pencil
Dick, dost thou demand more Ds from this daughter, this day?!
Seriously, it would seem that ABC would bring out whimsy, but that was my first ABC Weds. and that D stared me down, daring me… Thanks, Dick. Peace, Amy
dhemz
nice writing! Hope you can check out my ABC Wednesday entry too. Thanks!
Sharp Little Pencil
Greg, I did stop by but couldn’t leave you a comment on your fine work, so sent an email. Thanks for including the link – makes for easier contact with new artists of all kinds!
Peace, Amy
Chrisj
I had a father like that too — and sadly some of it rubbed off on me. I had help getting through my attitude towards him, but unlike the writer, I did find Jesus and that really DID make all the difference to me. So glad your pulling through all of that. It has taken me almost a life time.
Sharp Little Pencil
Chris, whatever it takes. For me, it was about a combination of prayer, therapy, and more therapy. And yes, that’s how it goes – the victim often becomes an abuser. I hope you have a support group to talk to about it as well. Guys can be tremendously helpful to each other in this way.
May your way be one of peace, Chris. Amy