Not for you did I arrive
My arms open ready to embrace
My smile warm and caring
Lies hidden beneath practised eyes
No, for you it was not
My embrace was theirs, projected
To silence your bitter self-pity
My smile was theirs, intended
To warm your barren heart
My calm was theirs and needed
No, for you it was not
Boiling, bubbling anger
A slap, hard and harsh
Verbal threats of destruction
Hidden,lying...
For you, thats all I've got
Not for you did I tread softly
Eggshells ungiving beneath
My voice soft and relaxed
Hatred countered with practised sighs
No, for you it was not
My care was theirs, projected
To silence your twisted attack
My voice was theres, disjointed
To silence you viscious tongue
My sighs for those, my needed
No, for you they were not
Once more defensive father
Against the enemy in their hearts
Preventing a families defection
Desperate, trying...
For you? I think not.