"The Wicker Stepmother"

She is the wicker stepmother, 
     she has the job, but not the name
she's looking for instant lessons
     at how to play the mommy game

She's a woman made of wicker--yeah, she's a basket case
sometimes she feels she's running in a never-ending race
she's holding the family together with little pieces of herself
those future plans for her career, she's put up on the shelf

She's got another woman's children to raise by hook or crook
you can see right thru her, but she's stronger than she looks

She is the wicker stepmother,
     she has the job but not the name
if the kids succeed it's heredity,
     if they fail she gets the blame

They pile their troubles on her like she was made of stone
she gives her life's blood to them as if they were her own
She's not a rock, she's only made of wicker
the ties aren't blood, but for her they're thicker

Their careless words will hurt her, her heart is on her sleeve
But as long as they still need her, she knows she'll never leave

c. 1989, B. Riley