Farther

A father you never try to be.
Instead, you play the role of ‘wanna-be’.
Run away from responsibility.
Lost.
Sorry.
Lazy.
Step up and be a man!
Don’t fold because of the circumstance.
I can’t even call you a father.
You’re always away.
So I call you Farther.

The phone rings. I hope it’s you.
Knocking at the door…it’s never you.
At my games, you’re nowhere to be found.
At graduation, I want to hear ‘THAT’S MY BOY!!!!’
I know I’ll never hear that sound.
You’ve never been around.
Every time I needed you near,
You were doing your own thing on the other side of town.
On my birthday, a card and presents.
The real value would have been in feeling your presence.

Made attempts to get closer
But you pushed me so far…away,
Denting my self-esteem.
Mom couldn’t do everything.
Sometimes, on you, I needed to lean.
The few times I saw you, you demanded Respect?
How dare you expect More when you give Less?
You give me Mediocre and want my Best?

You have taught me to be a man:
Be the opposite of you and I’m well on my way.
I wouldn’t dare call you my father.
Just stay away and I’ll call you Farther.