Beloved daughter
before I was alive
I was a shabti
a clay vessel
a clay vassal 
brought to the land of the dead
a suburban cul-de-sac
to serve the head of the household
doing the work 
that had been modeled
by the hands who created me

I was ignorant of 
his machinations
blind to 
his abuses
mute against 
his rules

until
until

My dearest child
I will always carry
the unspeakable damage
done to you 
while I was breaking 
free