Garfield and Marmaduke

I felt her stomach,

A little awkward moment passed
Before I asked,

“What am I feeling for here?”.

I jokingly asked her if she was pregnant…

And just then, I could literally read the shame coming off her face.

Growing up,

She used to love reading newspaper comic strips

Preferably, Garfield and Marmaduke.

I remember all the trouble she got in to

Or maybe it was all the trouble she got us through

This goddess who looked me square in the eyes

And told me she was sexually assaulted.

I nearly lost it,

Looking at each other dead in the eyes,

I couldn’t imagine the price that it costed.

Tears welling up in the both of us,

I thought God was supposed to be looking over us

I guess God was too busy looking over us

I guess this black cloud really hung over us.

As a child, she loved reading newspaper comic strips

Especially Garfield and Marmaduke

Now as an adult, she's looking me dead in the eyes

Telling me, “Please don’t tell my mama”,

Bruised.

At the time, I was the only one who knew

Who knew, I’d have to hold up the sky almost overnight?

I still remember when she used to wear her hair in pigtails

And her little over bite.

But today, I’m just a male poet

Trying to write about a pain I’ll never understand

Or fully grasp,

One I’ll never have to worry about

Because I was born a man.

Even now, I don’t know how to properly write

About this girl’s pain

What the Hell do I even say?

That it’s okay?

That Death is already coming to claim

That cold wraith?

But I don’t get angry,

She doesn’t need anger,

Instead, I tell her that she’s brave

And that I’ll be there for her

Every step of the way

And she doesn’t need to feel ashamed.

Now tell me,

What the fuck kind of man needs to resort to rape?

I could say threats

But I’ll save that bravado.

Just know that I made sure that you were just a footnote

As I undid your damage

And helped her fill in her potholes.

But fuck it,

I’m going to threaten anyways,

You better pray to God

Our paths don’t cross Demon

The only reason my brothers and I

Haven’t fucked you up

Is because you’re already dying

And you’re in more pain breathing.

When I was in the 4^th grade,

She was in the 2^nd;

I used to protect her

From her bullies.

But you can’t always be there

For your own

And I’m now learning that

The hard way.

No, I put my anger aside,

Instead, I tried to help her

Correct the mistake that God made.

I’ve been told if you play God,

You’ll get burned in the process

But for her, I’m ready to be left as charred remains.

Just a male artist,

Writing about a pain he’ll never fully grasp

Now I know how God feels

As she documents our pains,

If you ask me,

God’s been given a raw deal.

And humans were never meant to play God

So we sat there,

Both not knowing what to say…

So I silently left the room

And came back with the newspaper

And together,

We read Garfield and Marmaduke.

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