Your father had a drinking problem
At least that’s what you told me
You never liked to mention it
So I guess I made up stories
I never knew your mother
At least till I was fourteen
I’m glad she’s still okay
Maybe it’ s not too late for me

To try to get to know you
As a person, not a hero
But still I wish that I might hear you say

Son, it’s okay to feel
It doesn’t make you weak
I’ll try my best to understand, but I don’t know everything
I’m not too proud to say I’m sorry
Sometimes I get it wrong
Maybe there’s something you can teach me
Before our time is gone
I hope your life is better than how mine was for me
And I will always try to love you, the way that you need

I know that you were my age now
When you first brought me home
Four more years you had my sister
So I wouldn’t be alone

I couldn’t imagine
Doing that right now
I guess you did the best you could
And worked it out somehow

There are things I wish were different
And things I’m grateful for
Teaching moments in between
The photos on the floor

To remind me

It’s okay to feel
It doesn’t make you weak
Sometimes the point of it escapes you
And you get knocked down off your feet
I raised you better than he raised me
You’re your own man and I’m proud
These are all the things that
I wish my father said out loud