Ascension of a neighbor

I never realized that you
cared about me until after you'd gone
I always thought of you as this
berating, critical father standing
in my skull like a little despot
That part of me that never
should have been there

But is

And that's what kept me away
from you and your suffering
You and your sad, playful eyes

The fear...

But you brought me a plate of
leftovers from your Christmas lunch
And I said thank you
You had a picture of Jesus
Hanging in your hallway
which startled me
You offered me a hand with things
But I never knew you cared
until after you'd gone
And thats what changed things