Father of Mine

 

Father, how do I remember you today?
The man you were supposed to be?
The man you were afraid to be?
The man confused by culture’s philosophy?

Culture sent you one way to power and success
as love called you to tenderness you were afraid to profess.
How could I make sense of our life together?
I made you-up to be my father and lover.

You watched me grow…
I watched you disappear from intimacy you blended with fear
because culture gave you a NAME
Without emotional connection you could not frame.

I loved you so, dear father of mine
and have grown to understand and forgive you in my own time
I wish for my sons and grandsons a wisdom you did not find
to combine gentleness and power as a delicate flower, divine.

I wish ‘fathers of tomorrow’ a heart they don’t need to borrow
because they have decided LOVE is what they will follow

I wish them moments to waste
Following the lives of their children slowly evolving, wanting to embrace.

This FATHER will be…
The answer to longing sons, daughters, grandchildren, you see,
Generations waiting for ‘men’s emotional liberty!’