respect your parents

you gave me everything:

you gave me your life.

you gave me your time.

you gave me your wage.

you gave me your food.

you gave me your clothes.

you gave me your shelter.

but you withheld what mattered:

you withheld your love.

you withheld your affection.

you withheld your validation.

you withheld your feelings.

you withheld your empathy.

you withheld your patience.

you were there physically,

but you weren’t there for me.

you treaded the line of neglect,

and told me to be grateful for it.