Once a year, I'm reminded here
on father's day, I have no father near.
My father could not be farther.
Actually, that's not true.
He's in one of the Southern counties of England
but it's distant enough to do.
He has two sons that he chose to have
and raise and support and endow
with all those cultural allegiance mechanisms
that I try to imagine somehow.
Painted their rooms,
changed their sheets
throwing a ball and stuff,
giving them a father that they can observe
doing his worst, best or enough.
I'm a secret secreting jealousy as a crime superfluous to needs
watching all you parented people
making pronouncements on your old Dad's deeds.
Bitter, sour grapes and cynicism are the silent names that come,
"Don't utter or mutter a single word of distain
keep our game a zero sum.
It's not our fault you had no dad
there's no need to rain on our parade!"
I know this poem is digging a hole
but who got you your first *****?
Which, I guess gives me license to continue
to go on about the other problems that came
When I was a kid, they talked of a god
and "Father" was his name.
As if it wasn't challenging enough
there's a celestial, all-seeing eye.
I found daily life to be complex as it was
without attempting to anthropomorphize the sky.
Intimidated, un-encouraged without a male adult to hide behind,
I learned I was a ******* without belonging
while mother ******* raised their own kind.
But, I guess it's time to turn around
face the future face-on with the rest
I've two sons now, who know that they are wanted
Glad I typed this crap off my chest.
Sorry if I offended anyone with a dad
Just wanted to put words to my own case,
it was not written with any malice in mind
just like your annual slap round my face.
...