poem: To Fathers of Sons

What are your sons learning of freedom,

     by your own relation to the free?

   -Do you level accusations

       of irresponsibility against those who

walk without harness and yoke,

    or do you also aspire

        like them

             to be your own master?

 

What do your sons learn of passion

      from the fire within you

  -Do they learn only of its power

         to destroy and hurt,

             or could they learn to capture it

        and let creativity sit

in the driver's seat of life's carriage?

 

What do your sons learn of love,

      by the love you allocate-

  Do they learn it is sacrifice, defined

           by human limitations-

or do you teach them it is limitless,

           and comprised of the joy

with which the world sings?

 

What do your sons learn of women

     by watching you-

do they objectify them for their bodies,

    and accord them their roles

   -or do they learn

that women are friends, leaders,

      equals, partners,

and co-creators of life-

      Will they learn from you to ask their mothers,

  spouses, friends and sisters,

     'what are your dreams and goals and values

and how can I empower you?'

 

What will your sons learn of religion

     by your own relation to God-

   will they learn to be controlled

by a Fate that already carved a path of granite

   through the center of the heart

or will you show them

     that higher powers can guide them

 in making choices

     even the hard ones

       thereby creating their own destiny?

 

What are your sons learning about the earth

     by the respect you show in daily actions-

         Do they learn that degredation

   is a fact of life,

 or do you teach them to be gentle

       with delicate things

and that they are stewards of a living

  breathing ecosytem?

 

What will your sons learn of dreams 

 when they look at your ownership of the ones

   borne of you?

 Will you teach them that dreams are

      a luxury one gives up

upon the arrival of children,

     or will they know

         that they are as necessary

to life as breathing-

       and that families can be part

of a man's larger vision?

 

What do your sons learn of life

     by watching you?

Will life be something that happens to them

  or will you give them

      the tools-

hope, passion, reason, kindness-

   they need

      to fully

            participate?

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

Author's Note

English version of a poem written in Spanish for my friends who are fathers

Reviews

[*** Hey Jude***]

What an awesome prose, as each question is answered with much wisdom, and insight! Every line inspires, and flows wonderfully. Then ends with the perfect question. Going to library so I may share with my children.
"What do your sons learn of life
by watching you?
Will life be something that happens to them
or will you give them
the tools-
hope, passion, reason, kindness-
they need
to fully
participate?"
I have missed reading your gems that always shine! Well done~ Jude :-)

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Marie,

Of late it seems your write two types of poems. Some, like this one, speak directly to your readers and challenge them. I find these to be the most powerful, and the current poem is a beauty. The last stanza is the summary:

"What do your sons learn of life
by watching you?
Will life be something that happens to them
or will you give them
the tools-
hope, passion, reason, kindness-
they need
to fully
participate?"

Now I do not agree with all of the statements and sentiments in the prior stanzas--No. I am not a religious man, for example. However, what does that matter given the last stanza's summary? The particulars of one's beliefs are not important if your children see you have a serious, sincere, and engaged approach to life. As they grow, they may not even agree with your views, but they will have learned from your example to take life, and their actions, seriously and with careful thought. We will not all come to the same conclusions on how to respond to life's challenges, but if we carefully consider our actions at least we have the chance of being thoughtful and compassionate to others.

A very powerful poem, My Dear, as I have come to expect of you.

Greatly enjoyed and high marks.

Very best regards,

Rick

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlande..]

may this poem reprogram the seed of a select few men
for there is only one computer to breathe life into the universe

[gombeggar]

learning to fly requires to fall out of the nest now and again, no? que? ...nicely written and sculpted in form...nice question in the end too