The Vader Conundrum

A poem about fatherhood.

Being a father
Is like being Darth Vader.

See, when you first become
A dad,
You're an enigma.
A strange, brutal force,
Commanding and controlling,
With a power beyond anything a
Mere child can imagine.

But that image
Is only in their mind.
It is a mask. A facade.

Because behind that mask
You're just a scared little boy.

Wishing you were Qui-Gon Jinn.
Hoping to be as cool as
Obi-Wan.
Knowing that you are not.

Because deep down inside,
You know that one day your
Child will grow up and
No matter how hard you try,
Eventually, inevitably,

They're going to end up
Watching the prequels.

And once they do,
They will finally see you
For the scared little boy
That you are.

An arrogant teenager
Who couldn't have everything
He ever wanted.

A fool, who thought he was
Invincible.

But until that time comes,
To protect my child
From becoming half the fool
I was
To live up to the image
Painted in their head...

I will do what I must.