My abuser is safe wrapped in a blanket of my children’s emotions
Hiding behind a veneer of feigned affection
Proudly displaying the fruit of his seed
The seeds that I grew, fed, nurtured and guided
The fruit that I sacrificed myself and my comfort for
The valuable harvest full of potential
That I know he would let rot on the vine
If I dare call attention to his lack
He has riches and buys what he wants
Contribution devoid of sacrifice or effort
Loudly declared for approval and admiration
Behind the scenes quietly minimising cost
Finances required for the life style he deserves
Holidays and treats, vulgar displays
Protected and comfortable, more than comfortable
Not willing to provide as he was provided for by Father
Is still provided for by Mother
Willing to deprive and keep them from surpassing him
His place as top dog defended
Keep them on a back foot denied time and opportunities afforded him
Contact haphazard and limited
His time almost as precious and rationed
He turns lies into truth to justify his betrayal
To hurt and destroy when he cannot control
Woe betide making it easy for a disrespectful servant
Who refuses to bow and scrape unless pressed to do so
For the protection of her most precious gifts
I hand over my jewels wrapped in newspaper
I cannot provide the setting they deserve
But that hardly matters
Deserve and need so different
Matters of opinion
He gilds them unnecessarily
Polishing his temporary treasures
Displaying them in velvet cloth
Before returning them
High maintenance dependents
Still needing sacrifice and attention
Requiring vigilance and care to keep safe
Unwilling to face the shame should he lose or damage the irreplaceable
Not willing to take responsibility or make sacrifices
These goods not yet offering a high enough return
To justify effort or expense
Except when required for pomp and ceremony
To display for admiration and accolade
To boost his ego and self worth in the eyes of fools
The gilding tarnishes and cloth fades and rots
To be replaced when next required for display
When he who must be respected demands their presence
We have no need for such trappings
Honesty, kindness, resilience enough
I quietly gather the beautiful fragile lives
Hold them in my heart and let them free
Free to be themselves
On the right path I hope
To their dreams and satisfactions
Able to see truth and be true
True to themselves and to others
Not requiring riches to be to be to be
Loved
Not for any return
Just let me watch them
I will catch them if they fall
I will give them my all