Dad? What Dad? Poem by Dan Brown

Here we are
Again.
Standing in the footsteps
in which we both are so comfortable.
Here we are
Again.
Tracking over familiar ground.
We’re nose-to-nose,
from opposite sides of the room.
We’re worlds apart,
at the same table.
Here we are
Again.
My carefully-chosen words ripping
through your argument, your defences,
and you, like razors through air;
and you. Pathetic. Weak. Powerless.
You have nothing over me.
No control, no power, no authority.
You have nothing from me.
No love, no respect, no obedience.
You have nothing at all.
You know that,
I know that,
we all know that.
And shame keeps you from admitting it.

It is said that the Devil sat by God’s side,
before being thrown from grace and banished to Hell.
In your blinded eyes, I am already there,
but my brother, the Devil, still sits in league with you,
who would liken your superiority in this household
to that of God, and manipulates your ignorance.
And while you may continue to insist my claims are
borne of jealousy, pettiness and hatred,
remember others see it too.

So here we are
Again.
You on one side,
Us on another.
These are flames
you just can’t smother.
Here we are
Again.
You crying, wanting to run away from it all,
like any 45 year old father would do.
Me trembling with anger, wanting you dead,
like any 18 year old son of yours would.
You thinking raising your fists to me will
instil some sort of fear or submission in me.
Me meeting your glare challengingly
and laughing in your face.
You don’t scare me, I see you for what you really are;
A nobody.
To me, you’re a nobody.
A walking, talking mass in my life
which requires nor receives anything from me.
To me, you’re nothing.
Dad? What Dad?