FATHER
There are stories
Stories about you
About how you used to
Be a “good” person
A “good” man
A “good” father

Stories about
How you used to be
Pure and real

Why can’t I remember those times?
Why can’t I remember any good in you?
Why?
Because the bad things are so strong
I don’t remember a “good” father

I remember
When we lived in Florida,
Kentucky,
And Chicago

The places
Where you became an addict
Where you were always high
Where you drank too much
Where you were always in and out of jail
Where you couldn’t hold in your anger
Where you hit my mom

The stories claim that when you weren’t high or drunk
You took care of me and my brothers
You were a “father”
But you didn’t have a choice
My mom was too high to take care of us
You were all we had
But that was when I was 4
And those times were rare

I’m 13 now
And I know there’s a difference between being a dad
And being a father
A difference between wanting to care
And having to care
What I couldn’t figure out is why
You would even have to question your love for me?
I know now that it’s because
You’re not my father

I’m 13 now
And the longest I’ve seen you out of jail
Is 6 years
You have a flame in you and I’m sorry
But I couldn’t put it out
No one could

You wonder why no one wants you around;
You’ve hurt people
You’ve Stole from people
You’re a liar

There are questions I have
But I can’t trust that I’ll get an honest answer
I couldn’t even trust you to come home on time,
Let alone be honest!

You should be honest- for yourself
So you don’t start to believe your own lies
Because if I’m being honest- for myself
The truth is;
I’ve moved on
The truth is;
You’re not my father

A father is someone who
Is capable of such a word
A father will protect you;
Not put you in harms way

My father is the man who
Held me as I cried for you
My father looks me in the eyes
And is honest
My father has never
Turned his back on me
Even when I’ve turned my back on myself

My father is that man who will be there
Next year to see me graduate
My father doesn’t have to think about
If he’s doing the right thing by taking care of me
He knows;
He’s confident
My father has taking care of me
Double of what you have

My father went to my mom’s funeral as a free man
Not with a guilty conscious
And he has never questioned his love for me

My father is someone who
I am thankful for
My father has made a positive change in my life
He has earned the title: Father

My father is a real man
Not some boy who has kids
But isn’t ready to be a father
Any guy can be a dad
But it takes a real man to be a father
I was given the chance to have a real man in my life
Who I can count on to be my father

My father is my is my uncle
The one who stayed when times got hard
The one who’s been there
Through it all
My father is the one who’s always there for me

He’s the one who knows when I’m hurting
My father is brave
He’s real
My father isn’t that man in those stories
My father is you;


(My uncle)
Corwin