Hit and Tell Villanelle
 
My mother told my father's friend
he beats us both and treats us bad.
My father didn't hit and tell.
 
The friend was rather shocked, I guess
Dad must have felt a little bad.
My mother told my father's friend.
 
Dragan sat silent, shook his head,
Mom kept telling on my dad.
My father didn't hit and tell.
 
Mom spoke a lot, perhaps she felt
Dragan to be her friend, as well.
My mother told my father's friend.
 
I only listened, but I drank this man’s
disgusted wrath and outrage.
My father didn't hit and tell.
 
In the end, though, nothing changed.
No one did a thing to help.
My mother told my father's friend.
My father didn't hit and tell.

Katerina Stoykova-Klemer

Katerina Stoykova-Klemer's mother was her best friend for many years until she passed away in 1995. Katerina's email address is katerina.klemer@gmail.com and her website is http://katerinaklemer.com/.