She didn’t want to sell her mother’s ring
but he told her to
so she sold her mother’s ring
she didn’t want to
fall downstairs and break three ribs
but she dodged him
so she fell downstairs and broke three ribs
she didn’t want to go to the police
so she didn’t go to the police
She wanted to tell Our Lady all about it
the candles had all burned out,
she couldn’t see her face
the church was locked
there were no matches
it was too far to walk
he told her not to
her clothes weren’t right
she was ashamed of not loving her daughter
she wanted to love her daughter
she was too exhausted to love her daughter
she did love her daughter but she didn’t want to
she didn’t want to poison the dog next door
but he told her to
so she poisoned the dog next door
Fr. Jim said forgive him
but she didn’t want to
,
Ruth Hoban
.