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
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: September 8th, 2026 07:37
- Comment from author about the poem: Part of the Truth, Applied collection.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 25
- Users favorite of this poem: Syd, Paul Bell
- In collections: Truth, Applied.
Offline)
Comments10
There’s a damn raw grief and anger here, because the speaker isn’t merely mourning a dead father figure—they’re confronting the cruelty of someone who had the chance to love his daughter and chose entitlement, bitterness, and rejection instead. The final question cuts deepest: “is it a monster, / or the daughter / you could’ve had” turns the poem from accusation into a devastating reckoning with everything that could have existed if he had simply loved her the way she deserved.
Thank you so much, Thomas. This came from a deeply personal and painful place...and that closing confrontation carried everything I needed to ask but could never ask them directly. Two people in mind on this one, sadly. I truly appreciate how fully you received this one, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
Fiercely honest poem here, unflinching with each line refusing to let the past rewrite itself. The poem allowing the daughter to be seen, finally, giving her dignity that she never got from her father. 👍🏻🕊️
Thank you so much, arqios. I needed this poem to confront the harm plainly and return something cruelty had taken from her. This was deeply personal ground...and I truly appreciate how fully you received it, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
beautifully raw and honest my friend
Thank you so much, Norman...this was deeply personal ground, and I’m grateful it reached you, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
it certainly did a powerful piece
I hear anger and rage at one that should have by nature loved a child and did not. If father despicable, if mother worse still for she hated what nature had decreed part of herself. A strong write that screams out in furry.
Thank you so much, Soren. Both possibilities you recognized are present...two people I know personally, one rejected by a mother and the other by a father. Different circumstances, but the same devastating failure of parental love. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
You are most welcome Tristan and that is a sad situation where someone else needs to step in and take the parental place.
It really is. You are most welcome, my friend. Thank you for getting it. ❤️
Good write T. Popeye don't care - he glugs the spinach with or without herbs! lol.
Thank you so much, Orchi! Olive Oyl brought the seasoning, Bluto brought the mortar and pestle, and our sailor swallowed the entire botanical operation before grace was finished. And all the sailors said, Glugmen!! 😂🌿🥀🖤🙏
Hi Tristan,
I really like this. It’s quite dark and sad, but that’s maybe why I’m drawn to it. It sounds as though your parent in law couldn’t show love to their daughter, despite her being there for them, while other family members squabbled over material things.
It’s got teeth, this one.
Well written 👏
- Syd 🍄
Thank you so much, Syd. You came remarkably close to one of the two real stories living inside this poem...it was deeply personal to write, and I truly appreciate how fully you received it, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
This is heartbreaking and deeply moving. The final question is especially powerful—a painful reflection on love denied, wounds carried, and the daughter he might have truly seen if he had loved her as she deserved.
Thank you so much, soheil. That closing question carried everything I could never ask directly...and it came from witnessing two people i personally know live with the consequences. I truly appreciate how deeply you received this one, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
Thank you. I can feel how much this poem came from a deeply personal place. Sometimes the questions we cannot ask directly find another way to be spoken.
They always say, you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family.
I would imagine no one mourns this man, and why would you.
We all have collections of relics that we keep locked away, and your poem highlights why.
Thank you, Paul. Death can leave behind a strange mixture of injury, grief, and mourning for what should have been. This poem opened one of those sealed rooms for two people close to me...I truly appreciate your thoughtful response, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
There’s only one course of action for me, Tristan. I will absent myself immediately. This is far too raw and painful to witness. Bitter family disputes cause so much grief clearly extracted here – which speaks to the quality of your writing.
Thank you, Doggerel Dave. I completely understand needing to step away...this one cuts close to the bone. I appreciate you stopping long enough to leave such a thoughtful response, my friend. 🌿🥀🖤🙏
An outstanding outpouring of grief and sadness at lack of care and compassion. Well done 👍
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