FATHER"S DAY II

My heart doesn't belong to Daddy--
He didn't want it you see, he didn't have
Much to do with us kids,
Only yell a lot and get mad.

I don't know why he was that way,
Others in his family were that way too.
We had to walk on eggshells-we never
Knew what would get him in a bad mood.

He had a different attitude in public--
He was a friendly, kind man, no fault in him.
But with his family, he got his jollies
Saying things to humiliate them.

We weren't allowed to tell others--
Not even family members treated the same.
He'd say that we were liars,
And there'd be hell to pay.

As he got older, sometimes
His mask would slip, he'd forget
And show his real self,
And not realize it.

I cry when I hear people talk
Of how close to their fathers they are--
My heart didn't belong to Daddy,
But he left it badly scarred.