an ode to my father.

it has taken me seventeen years
to realize that my relationship with
my dearest father is the one that i cherish
the most.

i do not contest that i do not get along
with the maternal figure in my family;
she and i barely see eye to eye.
it is my father who understands
what i am, who i am, and how i feel.

my father is verging onto the age
of fifty-seven at the end of this year,
and i feel that he has lived a successful
and fulfilling fifty-six years so far;
i would love to wish him another fifty!
he is the most selfless person i know,
always sacrificing his wants and desires
for the fulfillment and happiness of others.
he is always involved in something that will
better the community around him,
and i admire him so.
his job demands much of him, and he pours
his intelligence and compassion into it.

his face has grown weary with age and
stress of living with three, albeit
moody, hormonal, demanding, emotional
women.
but i love it when he laughs,
and is happy with a smile.