Sins of our father's.

We can learn kindness from living and seeing hate and violence.

  Father's eyes and anger
                       
 
  
Is my Father's eyes and anger.
Are they mine now?
 
I told you.
I love you.
I need you.
 
Love should bring calm and peace.
 
Violence.
A hidden demon.
Can strike without thought.
 
Sweet friend.
Kind lover.
Did you see the monster?
 
I tried to lock the demon up.
He tried to escape.
 
I must walk away for a moment.
Deep breathes and counting to ten.
 
My world is falling apart.
Like my Father's world did.
He took the bad road.
Pissed off and violence.
 
I will keep quiet.
Do my best to stay strong.
Ain't easy when your world is falling down around you.
 
We need kind words.
We need a lot of patience.
A lot of love and forgiveness.
 
I will pray to the God of life and death
Give me wisdom and strength.
 
                  Coyote
           7 Feb 1989



 
                        My Father
 
                
When I look into the mirror.
Do I see you my father?
 
Have I become what I despised all my life?
Have my eyes.
Your violence become mine?.
Everyday I learn more loss.
Loss of dreams.
Lost of desires.
 
Will I become like you?
Give up.
Show spirit only when I'm violence or excited?
 
Can I stop my journey to man-hood?
My eyes from hiding tears.
Gentleness.
 
Have I travel too far?
Is the blood too strong?
 
Am I destine to hurt everyone?
I have loved.
 
If I chose my own road.
Why do I follow my father sadness.
 
                        Coyote
                 27 April 1989
 
 

                 Sins of the fathers

My father fought in wars.
Killed in battle that expanded to the real world.

He was a Mexican/Ojibwa man with no place to go.
Hated for his color and race.

He demanded respect and never allow anyone to
look down at him.
His anger and violence controlled his mind and heart.

He told me. "You will get a education and make them respect you.
I won't allow you to live my life."

My father watched me succeed.
He told me often. "Don't allow my sins to become your sins.
I have killed, done bad things. You must overcome the sins of
your father."

Now I have lived a good life. "My father's sins made me go in the right
direction. Sins of our father's need to teach us a better way."

He asks me once. "Remember son. You must pray for me. Children must pray for
their parent to be allow to find peace."

I pray he is with his Soldier brother's in paradise. Drinking to a good day. I believe a kind God forgive the sins of men lost in the turmoil of hate and prejudice.

The sin of our father's must teach us the better road.

                            Coyote
                       5 Jan 2011
 
I 
 
 
 
 

Author's Note

Thank you reading. Any mistakes please assist. Never too old to learn.
Coyote

Reviews

[Mr Dunne Poetry]

Wow Coyote, this really has me speechless.

I've always had issues with my father but legally I cannot talk about that until my censorship ends in 2014. This really made me sit up and think about so many things.

Thank you ever so much for publishing this, very well written my friend :)

[Sam Severn]

I love, love, love, love, love this first poem, Coyote! It reminded me of my own father, who was violent n' abusive toward us kids, because he didn't know any other way (his own father had been abusive n' violent toward him). What a sad chain we men make! I pray someday we will all find the courage to break it.... ㋡

[Poetic Beauty]

These three poems are well done and well expressed. That fact that you are actually checking to see if you are becoming like your father is a sign that you are trying very hard not to become violent like him. The emotions and feelings of being afraid of become the person you feared the most is shown clearly. Great eye opening write my friend.

[InkSlinger]

The common tread, an emotional man who never really understood just how his emotions affected those around him.. Love how they all related to one another, and how you threaded them into a solid tangible image of your father influencing hand. It is funny how as young men, we push against our father's ideals (parents in general), then as we become fathers ourselves, we call on the things he taught us, each of us our own man, never truly following quiet the same path. Well done recognizing where the line should be drawn, and sharing with us your experiences.

[Nothing Personal]

They are all connected and related to one another. three connected stories. The frustration and the anger in his eyes, the emotion in his heart and the realization later. Like all your poems Coyote, it's Beautiful. We want to become like our fathers but only in the good ways. If we become better individuals, we have to learn from them and follow their footsteps. I'm glad you made it. I'm glad you kept his word..I'm sure he would be proud of you. Proud of the work you do..

[Amber Elaine Marshall]

Great write! I love how you express the fears of following the same pattern yet your able to recognize the need to change the pattern and how a father urges the child to break the cycle...

[Undying Glory]

i really loved these poems, such an amazing trio of verse. and this was such great dedications to our parents. i haven't read much of such poems here so that made these quite unique. great job!

[Susie Q]

Thanks for sharing, Coyote. I believe the three poems would make a good story. I think we can learn from both of our parents and hopefully they will help to lead us down the right path. In some cases if you are not that blessed maybe someone along the way will give you the love or the will to succeed in your life. Even if a parent might have demons to fight they may be letting you know that isn't the way to go.

[poetic soul]

i loved the theme...its rarely touched upon by poets...and the story it reflects is very real...i m sure many can relate to it in some or the other way...i like your style..its easy and impressive at the same time...

[Andrew Wright]

All together, this creates a beautiful story of your growth. I'm glad to have read this. Thank you for the opportunity.

[StacyPerry]

I enjoyed everything as I always do with your writings. A talent.