My Father Tells The Story Where I Am A Girl

Discovering the opening
between her legs,

the way her body is a secret—
even to herself—a world

that seems a wound
because Little Mermaid

panties mean giving up
your voice for love

and Daddy likes quiet,
no talking, no crying,

no laughing too loud
when the news is on

or the radioman calls
women bitches

which Daddy explains
means a female

dog so he can say it
but on my girl lips

it’s bad like my hand
itching something I can’t

scratch and now my body
is bad too and disgusting

Daddy says, sends me away
to my room and Mommy

is in charge of holding
my sad and learning

to go potty isn’t special
anymore, underwear shame

to bury in the hamper
and down there

is nothing, no name
even after thirty years

when Daddy invites
my new husband to laugh

with all the old men
at little girls foolish

enough to believe
they could ever be

part of their world.