“Don’t tell me how to love,” you said.
“Arrogant child, what do you know?
You’ve done nothing,
Seen nothing,
You know nothing.
Do not presume to teach me.”

You forget, father of mine.
You forget what you’ve done to me,
What you have  unintentionally taught me.
You forget that you have dragged me through a lifetime’s worth
Of hurt,
Betrayal,
Hatred.

Accidentally,
You taught me
Strength,
Joy,
Beauty.

You taught me to let go
Of bitterness,
Sorrow,
Anger.

You taught me Love.
I know what it is.
I searched for it my whole life.
You call me a child, but if a life is measured in pain, I’m an old lady,
Much older than you.

You say I am arrogant.
But you, you are arrogant.
You believe I have nothing to teach you,
But you are wrong.
Everything you never meant to teach me,
I could teach you.

But you won’t listen.