It’s a shame, your light is shadowed
over by, whispered domestic war stories,
with more guts than glory.
When your fellow dads
Abandoned their homes for younger love stories.

Its sad, that those who rise to the occasion of single parenthood,
Will hear more blame for absent counterparts,
Than compliment for their part.

From playgrounds,to churches, to chamas,
The women with positive stories of learning how to ride bikes, or drive cars
Are hushed by a cry out for Babas who,
Whether present or absent, may have well
been on Mars.

So, its time you were called out,
Amazing fathers of the world
You who worked through the pressures of
Right house
Right school
Right food
And didn’t dwell on the temptations of the
Right clubs and bars.

When you didn’t know what to do with my hair,
But did your best anyway.
When you showed my brother how to hold a pen,
and colour in
or me how bicycle cogs need greasing
and when.

When you held back from over protecting,
Kept track of which music I was listening.
Had to budget for Christmas,
And explained it to me.

Kept calm and listened, when I was bristling
With the outbursts, christened in by teenage emotions.
When you tried to give me a compliment or guidance
And it hurt.
When you repeatedly
Instilled in me
That to live right,
I have to work.

When the way you’ve lived your life, made me burst with pride
When someone said
I look just like you.

And I think it possible, that more harsh words
Than kind,
Reach for you,
As a Dad.
So its time to speak my mind.
You’re Amazing!