Dear Santa

Dear Santa, I know you're busy, so I'll try to keep this short
I know what I want for Christmas 'cause I've thought and thought and thought
And I've tried so very hard to be the best that I could be
But being good's not easy when you're a naughty girl like me

I don't know why I'm naughty; neither Mum nor Dad would say
They just yelled and called me names because I'd tried to run away
And Santa, that's not all they did; my Dad got mad again
And right now I hurt so badly I can hardly hold the pen

Oh, and Santa, did I tell you that I tried to tell Ms Jones
About that thing that Daddy does to me whenever we're alone?
And how Ms Jones spoke to the head, who then called Mum and Dad
And how they all just smiled and lied and told me I was bad?

Then I tried to call that number for the NSPCC
And the lady that I spoke to said she wanted to help me
But Daddy came back in just then and caught me on the phone
And he did that thing he only ever does when we're alone

I know I asked you for this last year, and I hate to be a pain
But I'm gonna end this letter asking for the same again
Please make someone believe me, and help me find a home
Where no one does what Daddy does whenever we're alone

A/N: I've had quite a few people ask me about this point, so I'd like to clear it up right here and now. The character in this poem is completely fictional; she is not based on me in any way, shape or form. I'm lucky enough to have a fantastic family and have never been the victim of abuse myself. I just wanted to get that straight, since I really don't feel comfortable with people implying that kind of thing about my parents (however nicely or obliquely they do so)

The problems described here, however, are very real, and since I'm involved with the NSPCC, I wrote this poem purely to remind people that child abuse doesn't stop just because it's Christmas

On a happier note, this poem was actually accepted by the NSPCC to appear in one of their mailings!

And for those of you not in England who don't know, NSPCC stands for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children