Love Me For Me

Love Me For Me

That perfect little mold
you tried to force me into
stifled my growth of self,
kept me from fresh air, new ideas.

I could never be you
perfect daughter to show off.
I'm rough around the edges and,
Heaven forbid, prefer to think for myself.

Are you jealous that
I'm Daddy's little girl?
You never like when his attention
turned to any female but you.

Seriously?

My head hurts from
butting against yours.
Let me be me!
Is that too much to ask?

Apparently.

You shush me when I speak
in front of family and friends.
I'm no longer a child,
a woman grown, older than when
you had me.

Why can't you accept me
for who I am,
not your ideal of who you wanted
for a daughter?
I'm worthless in your eyes.

You words, and your silences
speak volumes.

Time has passed
and so have you.
Bridge burned with
no chance of repair.

Why couldn't you love me for me?