Once he was there,
everywhere,
anywhere I'd be.
I tried to escape
his evil lair
but I had a brother
that needed me there.
I looked after him
even when he was scared.
I cradled and nurtured him,
I let him know I cared.
He used to wake up
in the depths of the night
and sit up, shout
and scream in fright.
He would call for his mum
sit and cry.
I wanted her to
but I had to lie.
I had to protect him
from the truth.
He was too innocent
in his youth.
His father didn't care,
he was a snake.
Slippery, slimy,
cunning and fake.
He'd wind his chains
around us.
Playing his mind games
to control us.
We listened afraid
that we had no other choice.
Hung on his every word,
let him to steal our voice.
We had no opinion
anymore,
not anything but his
sharp tooth and scratching claw.
And now several years
have gone by,
I'm still afraid to
hear my brothers cry.