note to my father before he becomes one:

one son / one child too sacred to touch earth / two daughters / one will ask questions to connect / the other will keep quiet trying to protect / you will see yourself in them /

they will discern you had to earn your place / tell you through disruption “our love doesn’t need to be bought” / they will repay the grace you grant them / they will discover you protect them too much because you were protected too little / they will forgive /

they will choose to chew their pride when they meant to say “I’m sorry” / make cuts where they meant to put stitches / storm off when they can’t bridge the gap / they will fight with you at the table / go home and say “he’s right” /

they will be thankful you called to tell them what they did not want to hear / ask why you provide for those who should have provided for you / “God” / they will believe you / how else could a man not resent another for never being a father / how else could a man without a father become a good one.