Second Chance

Shoulders stooped with 

Weight of misgivings

So much of mistrust

Flowed under the bridge 

Muddying relationships

Prematurely she aged

Giving up on all of them

Every word misconstrued 

Under cloud of suspicion stood

Had gone against set rules

Second chance in life took

Widower with two boys wed

Role more that of a governess

A marriage of convenience 

Her daughter from first husband

Found herself out of place

In a household of only men

She tried, tried hard to fit in well

Always the butt of

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jokes

Any opportunity at her they poked

She smiled like a good sport

Mother, daughter felt demeaned

Yet carried on with the believe

Some day the men would reform

Treat them with less scorn

But that was not in their fate

Till step daughter in exams aced

Bringing to the family fame and name

Relationships took a u-turn

Husband and step boys stopped

Having at their expense, some fun

It was too late by then

Relationships had become strained

Mother daughter walked out on them

Boys were grown; needed no governance