Cruel And Usual Punishment Poem by bob eichen

WAAH!
Stop crying!

WAAH, STOP HITTING ME!
I should really give you something to cry about!

WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THEN?
These are love taps.

THIS DOESN'T FEEL LIKE LOVE.
This is for your own good.

WAAH!
Look, my dad beat me and I turned out fine.

THIS IS FINE?
This hurts me more than it hurts you.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.
You'll live.

OH, I KNOW THE WELTS AND BRUISES WILL BE GONE IN A FEW DAYS.

BUT THE MEMORY OF SOMEONE I LOVE...

AND THE MEMORY OF SOMEONE WHO SAYS HE LOVES ME...

DOING THIS TO ME...

WELL, I'M AFRAID THE MEMORY OF THIS JUST MIGHT LAST A LIFETIME!