we had to be quiet and listen to dad casually pontificate with one eyebrow the right raised at the dinner table. it was boring and we sat chewing quiet with scared smiles.
 

the stepmother du jour never said anything.
 

a tyrant gets old and addled and if you just meet him you say he's sweet, give him a break, what's wrong, you should seek therapy.
 

he was very meticulous with words, it was all bullshit he said. i was a word whore. with pride.

words fail me. i falter, father. furthermore,
i fail, after you,  i profess failure,
and for my shame i don't get paid. 
i talk that silence after you
away from you