Poem 2:

Forgiving My Father

I’d like to forgive you, Father,

but I don’t know your heart.

Your face, is it a mirror image of mine?

I’d like to forgive you, Father,

but I find your absence a fire

that your face might be able to extinguish.

I’d like to forgive you, Father,

but my last name isn’t the same as yours

like it’s supposed to be.

You rejected me, Dad,

but can I sympathize with your ignorance?

For all the birthdays

you didn’t send me a card,

for the Christmases

when I’d wake up,

and you weren’t sitting by the tree

waiting for me

I can’t forgive you.

What about the summer nights

where prospects of you began to fade?

Fade like you did 17 years ago.

Out of my life.

I’d like to forgive you, Father,

but I don’t know you.

And for that,

I hate you.

Justin Morris