You said "daughters are to be seen not heard" So I learned how to smile on cue Folded my questions Like laundry in drawers Hid all my colors from you Sat at your table Hands in my lap Careful with every word Reading your weather Watching your glass Pretending it never hurt You were never really there for me Just a father who didn't want to be I grew up in the quiet Of a house that never asked what I dreamed You were never really there for me Only rules Never room to breathe You saw what you wanted But you never saw me You preached "Think like me or not at all" So I bit every tongue-tied plea Turned my opinions To dust in my throat Till silence was all I could be I practice out loud now In an empty room Saying things I needed to say to you "I'm angry I'm hurting I'm more than you allowed" Listen to me I’m speaking out Speaking now