Ogre and helper

The door flies open, he is standing there

Come on, get up, get up,

Windows pushed wide open and ice cold air brushes across my face, I feel so bare.

I curl into a ball, afraid, what’s in store today I won’t be allowed to play.

I don my bobble hat, navy overalls and prepare to stand in the ice cold handing tools to him, he really doesn’t need me there, is it punishment I don’t know but I know him I really can’t bear.

He has to take a leak, thank goodness I sneak into the house and warm my freezing fingers, the pain is intense and my life makes no sense.

The helper in the warm kitchen, she looks at me but no words are spoken,

I look longingly for a kind word that will allow me to stay in the warm; Silence.

Shouting “Come on, come on” I hate him so much, I just want a cwtch from her, it all seems a blur.

The Staffordshire bull terriers run around my feet, they are happy, they are loved,

Why, why aren’t they beaten, abused or ignored, they irritate me when they scratch at my knees so playful when I feel so tearful.

I am angry I want to hurt them I want them to feel pain,

Like the pain inflicted on me by the Ogre,

But I don’t want to be the same as him, completely insane.