Tristan Robert Lange

bitter herbs

why is it
that you
could not
show love
to your
 
daughter?
 
why is it
that you
could only
feed bitter
herbs to
 
the family?
 
why is it
that even
when dying
you couldn’t
find humility
in your soul
to see
 
her—
 
to see her
love
beside you
as death ate
your rotting corpse—
 
even as
you showed
your love
to those 
who only
sought out
entitlement?
 
and now,
long after
you’ve died—
far since
 
removed
 
from your
pains and
your fears
 
do you look
down from
 
heaven and
 
see the one
you shunned—
 
is it a monster,
or the daughter
you could’ve had
 
if you loved her
the way she loved
 
me.
 
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved. 
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, September 8, 2026.
 
Tittu
 
 
 
 
 
+++
Coming this Macabre Monday
DEVILISHLY DREADFUL
A second season of gothic dread
starting on September 14, 2026