You stand rock-like
But I stand on flimsy
Footprints reaching
Out for words in emptiness
You stand in steadfast principles
But mine waver every moment
When the earth shakes
Or tornado strikes
You say give never get
I say give and let live
I am bedrock of passion
Stone foot compassion
Wavering in light
Stoic at night
Till dreams are a cleavage
In what is right
My dad and I had a complicated relationship
I’ve written of this before
About a year ago I found his wedding ring
To honor his memory I wore it for the past year
Then suddenly 2 nights ago took it off
Returned it gently to a metal box on my desk
I realized yesterday that I can’t wear that ring again
He was a quiet man who kept his entire life secret
I am a poet and an artist
Everything is out in the open
He was always moral
I’ve had issues with that
Wearing his ring was an honor
I can’t be him
I wouldn’t want to
I don’t think he’d want to be me
Flesh and blood
Even in death there is love and protest