This House

Front door opens to front hall
Faded stains upon the wall
So many years since she's been gone
This woman you depended on
In just two days you watched her die
Too afraid to say goodbye
Far too late to make repair
The smell of death still in the air

Returning to the very place
where you last saw your mother's face
This house - emotions resonate
Pain and terror, love and hate
Remember how she said the things
that scared you so, and clipped your wings?
You used to lie awake at night
sweating, still, with numbing fright
Praying that she'd heed your call
But she never came at all

For many years you grew, and shed
memories of fear and dread
Remembering that you were raised
with no connections, never praised
Clinging tight to baby doll
You'd bang your head against the wall
Now you can't even find the place
You see now what time can erase

In this house, you walked around
Feet planted firmly on the ground
Things that happened long ago
could not destroy your will to grow
The emptiness that held the power
no longer chains you in its tower
In your head, you say goodbye
Still knowing that you want to cry
But now you won't - not anymore
You step outside and shut the door.