Found Favor

When his lips move, words cut like shattering glass.
Dance for me. It's not a request.
Smile, my child, he says to me;
You're my favorite play thing!

My eyes on his, the music begins;
With careful leaf-fallen steps
my dance proceeds its expression in patterns,
figures, movements,
isolated and defined.

Complex movements
to distract my mind,
Forgotten, is his control of my life.

With lyrical relevance
to much my surprise;
It won't be his wrath,
but his favor tonight.