I do not own Harry Potter or Spoon River Anthology.
BARTEMIUS CROUCH, JR., A False Grave (really his mother's)
(June 1963-March 1981)
Father cared not enough.
As a child, he ignored me; as adults we fought.
Father cared not enough to even notice
When I was made a Slytherin, like those of his foes.
When I came home from holidays, I misbehaved,
Hoping desperately that bad attention was better than none.
Having no love, the most I could hope for was hate.
Father cared not even then.
He saw not the warnings, the threats, or my path.
He busied himself with those far from him,
Never suspecting I had become his deepest foe.
When it was too late; when all was out,
Father cared only enough to give me a trial-
Yet not nearly enough to forgive me.
It was no matter; I expected not from him.
At last I had found his attention, his hate-
For I realized that was the only attention he gave,
Man incapable of love.
I repaid him with downfall, seeking my revenge,
My days of negligence were now his.
Yet I too paid a dear price: death.
Father cared not enough to even come for my body.
So now he lives with negligence and raw truth:
Father cared not enough to even ensure
That it is truly me that lies here.