I
   Never
               Stopped
                               Loving
                                             You ,

                                                    I
        ­                                    Just
                        ­    Stopped
           Showing
      It

WHAT'S A FATHER TO BE?
I DON' T KNOW , LET ME SEE.
ITS SAID THEY ARE KIND AND FRIENDLY
I'VE HEARD THEY ARE HONEST AND TRUE.
I'VE LISTENED TO STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO TREAT YOU
ITS BEEN TOLD , THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE WITH A HAND FOR YOU TO HOLD
SOMEONE ONCE SAID THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU NO MATTER WHAT
SEE I'VE ONLY HEARD THESE THINGS
IN REALITY I'VE BEEN CAUGHT
IN A FANTASY THAT MEN LIKE THESE
EXIST IN OUR REALITY
SOMETIMES IT IS SADLY A BRUTALITY
TO ACTUALLY HAVE A FATHER,
FOR HE IS JUST A MAN,
WHO DOESN'T EVEN KNOW,
HOW TO HANDLE HIS ANGER, AND HE LETS IT FLY BLOW BY BLOW
OTHERS THERE ARE THOSE, WHO WANT TO MAKE YOU TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES,
IN SADNESS, IN SICKNESS, THEY HURT YOU,
THEY TAKE AWAY YOUR FUTURE, YOUR SOUL
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THIS BLACK HOLE
THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY TOO MUCH
THEY HURT THIS WAY BY THE MEAN HURTFUL THINGS THEY SAY,
BELIEVE ME I KNOW PERSONALLY, A LIFE, LIVED, AND LEFT BEHIND,

I have met a man, who is KIND,SINCERE, FRIENDLY,AND ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. MY DAD, I LOVE YOU

looking in the mirror
not recognizing the reflection
when this face got so old
I have no recollection

creases around the eyes
skin looking like leather
time taking it's toll
worn out by the weather

body breaking down
getting difficult to stand
arthritis is a problem
especially in my hand

hair growing in my ears
and growing out my nose
growing places it shouldn't be
even on my toes

sight a little blurry
getting difficult to see
getting up every hour
just to go ***

even though this body
will break down and age
the fire for you inside me
will continue to rage

Autumn.
How do you charm?
Is it the pretty leaves?
Perhaps, it's the popular color?
Maybe the unique smell?

It truly is the season of change.
Past loves revisited in waves of seasonal aroma.
A sense of urgency from the changing colors.
The frailty of the fallen leaves.
A hint of impending doom.

Though, gently the wind grazes.
Warmth echoing through the chills.
Some antidotes heal with the passing of time.
Preparing us to mentally brave winter.
Reflecting inward, changing outward.

Hope; maybe.
Motivation to work hard.
Endlessly, to find our way.
Pick up what we can and move on.
Recollections of the good, the bad, and the old.

Noble as time flows.
Ultimately, honorably ending.
Another chance, another year.
Different colors, different smells.

Accomplishments and failure.
It's all the same in the end.
Withering, until spring.
Life fights a way through.
Meeting us on the other side.
Reborn again.