How do you interpret what's going on in this poem?

Question

Before you read it you need to know that the author was raped for 14 years by her father. She is an extremely talented writer.

"Fourteen wishes on blown out birthday candles

Smoky spirals rise above a new kind of scandal

Burning bits of prisons bobbing in a bleeding lake

Fourteen silent killers out of innocents you made

"Behind closed doors" you always used to say

So behind closed doors, the Fourteen had their day."

Answer 1

She made a wish every birthday that the abuse would stop.  No one knew what was going on, and she was bound to secrecy, Behind closed doors, for 14 years.

I hope the abuse has stopped, and that she has gotten counseling, and the perpetrator is behind bars.

Answer 2

She feels (felt) trapped - although she wished on each candle, she did so very well knowing that those wishes were not going to come true.  Each year was more painful, more "deadly" than the next.  Her use of the word "lake" is two-fold, for while lake's are suppose to be peaceful, calm and predictable (like a father...), they may also be deep, dirty, and dangerous to those who do not know how to swim (or how to save themselves in dangerous situations).  She also says that "fourteen silent killers were made", and that "behind closed doors, the fourteen had their day" - I take this as either she finally stood up to him (stood up for herself) or she somehow got revenge.  Very interesting poem.

Answer 3

I interpret it just the way you explained it. Sounds like the girl was raped for fourteen years.

Answer 4

For every year she celebrated her birthday , she wished that the abuse would stop. It took her the same time to have the strength & courage to speak out in self defence , to find her own self worth & dignity.