Torn Apart at the Hands of a Child

I was sitting in the kitchen
Waiting for daddy to get home.
He promised he'd take me shopping
To pick a dolly of my own.

At last I heard his car pull up,
I jumped happily to my feet.
I was minutes away from May,
The dolly I saw from the street.

I almost made it to the door
When it swung open and slammed to loud,
I felt the thud inside my chest
And, in my shock, I squeaked aloud.

And that, I guess set daddy off
For it was then he gave a yell.
He said some very naughty words
That mommy told me not to tell.

My daddy did this lots before,
Mommy said that he was just drunk.
The juice he drank made him angry,
I remember how much it stunk.

The tears were welling in my eyes
When daddy finally stopped.
I knew we wouldn't go shopping
And felt my heart in sadness drop.

Then I felt my anger flashing
"Why did you drink that juice, dad, why?
It always makes you act so mean!"
I felt myself starting to cry.

Then he did something very strange,
He was starting to cry tears too.
He looked so broken lying there
Crying tears that boys never do.

He kept saying that he was sorry
For all the things he said to me.
It was hard to see him act this way
For the reason I could not see.

He said, "I'm so sorry sweetheart.
I never meant to yell at you.
And I'm sorry you had to cry
But your words finally got through."

"I hate it when you drink, daddy,
I said, "It makes me feel the worst,"
He winced and said, "I know, baby.
I guess I had to be broken first."