Only A Matter Of Time Poem by Carolyn Brunelle

It was a crisp, bright sunny day;
The neighborhood was alive
With children’s laughter.
Signs of springtime were everywhere;
Seemed the whole world was happy
About just being alive.
Then I caught sight of her;
Watched her turn in and
Walk up the sidewalk to ask
Is this the women’s shelter?
'I have nowhere else to go', she explained.
'I’m only sixteen but
I can’t go back;
I can’t make him stop and
It’s only a matter of time
You see,
Until he ‘likes’ my little sister
Just as he always has me.
They all hate me now anyway;
Said I should have more respect
For my father
Instead of bringing such shame
Upon the family.'