The Landlord

The landlord knew everything
He, they said it was a he, saw everything
He knew what was in our thoughts
He knew what was in our hearts
We could hide nothing
Our lives were an open book

The landlord allowed my mom to suffer and die in pain
He watched my father die and my mother-in-law too
He saw the sadness in our thoughts
He saw the sorrow in our hearts
We could hide nothing
Our misery was an open book

The landlord ruined our garden
We had no food
He saw the hunger that fogged our thoughts
He saw the desperation in our hearts
He did nothing
Our suffering was an open book

The landlord had friends
They said we could not question him
He was there, at the top of the stairs
That he had a plan for me, for us
We wouldn't know what is was until we saw him face to face
But the door was locked
and he never answered the phone