What Caused the Fear?

I wrote this poem about physical child abuse.

What caused the fear that caused the fear
That fateful, ancient day?
Who was the one that felt it there -
The fear still felt today?

Was it the loss of someone close
Or pain from life unfair,
Or insane thoughts, dark and morose
That caused his heart to tear?

From evil thoughts came evil deeds
Young eyes soon beheld.
That evil instilled in planted seed
That doomed a line to Hell.

Seeds then took root, rotted from birth,
Evil felt and done.
What did it cost, what was it worth
That changed the ancient one?

Lives have passed and much has changed
But evil lurks within
Heirs apparent to thoughts deranged
Of pain caused by own kin.

The fear that was felt to look in the eyes
Of the ancient one that day
Through which my father saw the cries
He caused when I disobeyed.

That fear is the fear that caused the fear
That fateful, ancient day.
Refusing to pass it on from here,
Forgiveness starts today.