Badlands

What separated you from kindness,

Arrogance bloated by sibling order,

Until the sallow bowlegs failed you,

And only bitter you remained.

Your unctuous burlesque act

To feign compassion for others,

Sentiment was your anathema,

Only judgmental posturing satisfied.

None of the grace

Your parents modeled filled you,

Therein lies your acrid contempt,

You greedily curse them for what you lack.

I squirmed in your derision,

Paralyzed by hope that it would wane.

Today the false front lifted

To expose your fraternal forfeit.

Late is better than never to reject

The desolate, sisterly badlands.

Love was only an opportunity

You donned for appearances.