I Also Like You To Think For Yourself Poem by RIC BASTASA

child, they beat you?
and leave you? and not mind you at times?

why? do they justify that you must know pain
so you must avoid it at all cost
and know how to defend yourself
when it is inflicted?
do they say that leaving you prepares
you for independence so that you
can live by yourself and not rely
on anybody?
did they not tell you that they do not mind you
so that you will learn not to be conceited
and self-centered
and that as early as your childhood
you will know that this is a wide wild world
that there are evil people
that this world is a constant battle between
the bad and the good?

i understand perfectly daddy
that was what you did to me
and so i am here
strong, independent and
real.