Daddy Poem by N.J. Gardiner

A child's face always cold
lines deep everywhere
sitting with us all
upright in her chair
still and quite alone
mouthing on a single pain
words that only she can hear
what will not be shared
wounds mortal deep.
Head begins its to and fro
her body follows on
small sister plays across the room
beneath her endless stare
each day another hell
how old has she been when,
mother, daughters start
at the grating of the door
daddy's home again.