Invisible Little Girl

I hate being so invisible to you
But since it seems the only role
You've offered me
A disappearing act is the only thing
I can offer you

And maybe some day you'll realize
That I'm no longer here
and that you never bothered to ask me
The reason for my tears
Never realized I was sick of being
the invisible child - after more than 20 years

Maybe I was never perfect
Never perfect but I tried
Couldn't compete - wasn't your son
and was denied

And I'm sorry -- maybe daughters just don't count
So sorry I could never make up for all of your mistakes
Sorry, so sorry I ever tried
to be the prodigal daughter - in your eyes

And yes daddy -- I'm not a little girl
Don't ask for your approval - anymore
'cause I'll never get it

Yes, can't you see, I'm the invisible one
You never noticed me there
Never realized
how much I cared

How I gave everything I had
Until I was in debt
Destined to be the wounded bird
so easy to forget

I was fragile and breakable
battered, broken and lost
and maybe you blamed yourself for it
but didn't want to pay the cost

And your lack of attention
your failure to notice
is the thing that broke me

Maybe if you'd seen
Maybe if you weren't so blind
Maybe if you'd reached out a hand

and hadn't left me there -- alone
I wouldn't have drowned -- so many times
wouldn't be so black and blue
wouldn't have to scream so loud
just to get a glance from you

and maybe I'm a little angry
but mostly I'm just sad
that you've chosen to turn your back
on the last daughter you had

ily, 2002