TO MY FATHER

You never showed me love when I was little;
I never got a hug or a smile.
You never paid any attention to me;
Not even for a while.

I always thought you were very mean;
And I hated you every day.
I hated you with every breath I took;
In every possible way.

You were mean to Mama, all the time;
That's all I could ever see.
And you were mean to the rest of us;
Especially to me.

I grew up and became a woman;
And still no love did you give.
You hurt me more than you'll ever know;
You affected the way that I live.

I'm giving you back all of the pain;
And all the hurt I held inside.
And all the guilt I've carried around;
And all the senseless tears I've cried.

I will not carry the guilt anymore;
Becasuse I never did anything wrong.
All I ever wanted from you, Daddy;
Was your love, and to feel I belonged.

But now I'll never get that from you;
No hugs or smiles for me.
But I won't carry the pain or the guilt;
That's my gift for you, from me!!

© Betty Hawkins 2003
(All Rights Reserved)