All Comments on 'Father?'

A Lit returnee? Welcome home! A poignant piece that sounds like it's directed at a step-father with directions to meet some standards.

and certainly interesting..thanks.

Guilty until proven innocent ~ a worthy goal.

A very emotional poem, and the lack of form is fitting. I like it, but I stumble a bit over "Do what is expected". I think I know what you want to say, but can't the unexpected be a good thing also?

All in all I like your poem.

Nothing more to be said. 'This is a song of Hope . .'

I had to re-read this and think about it before deciding that I liked it. Poetry that makes one think is good poetry.

This is actually about my real dad.

I wrote it when it was in the throes of his addiction to Heroin. (See 'To Daddy' in my stories list.)

"What will it take, you ask,

To be worthy?"

My dad told me he wanted me to look at him and call him 'dad' and mean it. He asked what it would take for that to happen.. because I didn't look like I loved him anymore.

So my answer was: "Be what you should,

Do what is expected.

Think past yourself, is all that I ask."

Meaning be a dad. Don't lie and break promises.. be there for me, and not just worry about where your next fix is coming from. The 'do what is expected' part came from him not going out to eat with us for my sister's birthday. He was at his druggie girlfriends house, out of his head.

Hope that clears things up a bit! This 'poem' has always struggled.. and its basically only a poem because it isn't long enough to be a story. ;)

it grasped at my heart - call it poem - call it text... no matter the name... it touched a place inside of me - and maybe that's all that is needed

thank you

So beautiful...