Rhyme For Pater (Poetry)

To the man who never loved me
I will give you all my grace
and grant you half a poem
though half would be a waste

You’ll read the dedication
and see your printed name
as black as a cold villain
with a rhyme to match the blame

I’ve searched the book of reason
and found on every page
excuses for indifference
and smudges of pure rage

You’re father to a phantom
I never did exist
these words I stole from someghost else
and thought it worth the risk