Daddy Dearest (Brandy Goodman Poem #10) 

Mom said that he was great

While he was around,

But when they split up

He was nowhere to be found.

He’d come and go when it pleased him

And lied any other time

His priority wasn’t us,

He had a new family to find.

In walked another man,

She wanted us to have a father,

But when it comes down to it,

She really shouldn’t have bothered.

He was working all the time

Out on the road

And when he was home

Mostly he’d just explode.

Old Daddy Dearest

Made promises he’d rarely keep

And new Daddy Dearest

Beat Momma down at our feet.

There were several better men

Orbiting our life

But she didn’t want to be,

Anyone else’s cause of strife.

As the years passed his temper increased

And she thought of getting us away.

But anywhere we went

He’d find us in less than a day.

He’d show up and cause trouble

At times the police were called,

But she wouldn’t let them take him

She was caught between love and hate walls.

He drove everyone out of her life

And continued to beat her down.

After a while it became easier

Because no one came around.

She stuck with him so long

All her friends and family opted out

And we began to hate him

Of that there is no doubt.

Of all the men she could have picked,

She chose to pick the worst.

But at the start he pretended to be good

And she was in love with him at first.

Today it all still goes on

And she’s practically wasting away.

She sits around numbly

Praying today is her last day.