My dad, with his voice so loud and firm,
Taught me life’s lessons, through each turn.
He made sure I was alive and well,
Even when others wished I’d dwell in hell.

With every harsh word, a truth would bloom,
A lesson in kindness, through every boom.
Blunt and clear, with a joke on the side,
He taught me the balance of strength and pride.

It took me years to catch on and see,
How much of him lived inside of me.
His dark humor, his grit, his view,
Now echoes in everything I do.

I used to believe in "an eye for an eye,"
A way of getting back, or asking why.
But my mom showed me, with quiet grace,
That kindness doesn’t have to leave a trace.

"Be nice, no matter what they do,"
She said, “You hold the power, it's up to you."
To rise above the hurt and the pain,
And let love and strength break every chain.

Together, they shaped who I’ve become,
Blending their wisdom into what I’ve done.
A blend of strength and compassion’s hue,
Their love, a guide for all I pursue.

I’ve got half a life to take their lead,
To turn their choices into my creed.
And in their legacy, I will find my own,
Growing in ways that I've always known.