Inheritance

You smile all the while
you tear off the mask that I wear.
It's true that I'm scared, I'm far from prepared,
You lead me to places I could never dare to be.
I've tragically held myself hostage -
The cost is apparent: I'm hardly a parent,
Being transparent, although I'm embarrassed,
But in the end nobody's ever inerrant.

Endless anxiety tries to see lies in me,
Silencing all of the love that you have for me.
I won't keep listening, I'll go on mindfully
Past all the steps that are on up ahead of me.
This blood that I bleed is my tribute to you
To not have to deal with all that I went through.
I'll flip all the pages and write something new
So that you'll have a dad like the one
That I never knew.

Author's Note

For my baby boy and girl.