Father Figures

A dedication to the father figures in my life

I grew up raised by a single mother.
No father around, he didn't bother.
Later I found out he did the same to his daughter.
But as I looked around I found men to look up to.
Role models like my "Big Brother" and my uncle.
Thankfully, neither were schmucks too.
They were mentches
and dare I mention
that they are now in their respective trenches.
My bro was the first to go in early November
and as far as I can remember
he was doing well till cancer rendered
him hospitalized before my eyes
and when he died
I held in my silent cries.
I miss you brother bear
and I wish you were there
when I threw my grad cap in the air,
and even though we aren't related
our bond can't be debated
through the years that have been weighted.
The next to go was my mother's brother
as the same cancer took another
six feet under.
Before my bro he was the closest thing I had to a dad.
As a child, whenever I was sad
he taught me to smile and laugh
and that has made me into the man I am now
and although you can call me a crying clown
I'd gladly accept that name and feel proud.
But it makes me so sad knowing you were all the way overseas
because that meant I would rarely see
you and the rest of my family.
I try not to think of your final nights of pain
as I tried to calm my mom's strain
of going completely insane.
I'm sure your last days were full of vigor
as your soul began to linger.
Goodbye, for now, my Father Figures.