Lessons in Love from an Estranged Father

A ballad

My faith in flame now lies in grave

With those who rest in pain

They fell then fought their minds to save

The kin who took the blame

In feast they feud for hours to be

The one to take us home

In suits and ties they hear decree

She wins lest he still roam

I fly to fill his time of rest

And watch him love another

They pray, I lie, both say we’re blessed

Neither foresee souther

I leave and linger in the trees

Where crows sing songs to brood

I whisper winds to lift the breeze

That carries my rum rood

He hears and hails for tales I’ve told

When we broke in sunder

Of tint and tea, I now behold

Hours lost to blunder

When buds went bad I hid from words

That meant to catch missed days

Of limbs that lost their singing birds

To flames that caught ablaze

In rooms that rouse somber slumber

I hear apology

He leaves the love combing cumber

With mere theology

I fray the flame for I was first

But can’t throw words that faze

Though met we’re mute, and what is worse

The ease with which to raze

My tree is tall and now is near

To spring which sings its songs

The crows are back but now are queer

They roost where they belong

The winds that weep are few and far

I try but seem to fail

In tried, in truth, there’s always spar

I keep my only veil

That time and tears will never save

The pure from laws that reign

My faith in flame now lies in grave

With those who rest in pain