A Poem To … | Teen Ink

A Poem To … MAG

By Anonymous

This is a poem to john
I do not capitalize the name
Of a hypocrite
Of a racist
Of a let-down
Of a screaming lunatic
She says that this is not my battle to fight
That I shouldn’t hate him for what he did to her
I nod
I do not capitalize the name
Of an abusive husband
Of a self-centered man
Of a liar
When I call home I do not ask to speak to you
What would I say? Things I do not mean?
So, pass the phone
I do not capitalize the name
Of a man who won’t help himself
Of an abandoner
Who will come to my graduation? people ask
Well, all of the family members that matter, of course
But not him
I do not capitalize the name
Of a father



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This article has 27 comments.


Da one said...
on Sep. 5 2008 at 7:45 pm
I feel your anger and pain in your writing and to me that is the quality of a good writer. I went through the same problem and like me I hope you can cope with it because one day your going to be in charge. I hope your mother can find somebody way better then him. Like my mom I know she deserve better.( tell her that for me)

Alix221 said...
on Sep. 5 2008 at 2:53 pm
All I can say is wow...so well written, gave me chills.

EmilyOliveP said...
on Aug. 28 2008 at 7:50 pm
I'm so glad people have been reading this -- it has stood out in my mind since I first read it two months ago. I feel very much the same way towards my own father so the poem is a comfort to me.

socksrox said...
on Aug. 14 2008 at 2:41 am
i love it! like the others said, i love how u say it just how it is! but in this poem, it's like you can feel the emotion you were feeling when you wrote it.

keesha said...
on Aug. 6 2008 at 9:14 pm
i luv this poem it reminds me of the things that went on in my life wit my mother and da two kids he had wit her and don't even talk to them.too much info sry but i luv the way u tell it lyk it is

baroodio02 said...
on Aug. 6 2008 at 4:10 pm
this is very beautifully written. very sad, but beautiful. You convey your emotions in a wonderful way.

MewMew2 said...
on Aug. 4 2008 at 7:43 pm
Excellent job, keep telling it like it is.