My father had a song within, yearning to be born
A world to see, an ocean to sail,
Clothes so tattered, shoes so worn
A life, a war, a wife, a son, a job,
And then me -- Responsibility

Me in high school, second year, music full of tears
My brother passed the year before
I found my song before my peers
Friends were few and hopes were low
And me -- it just had to be
I went first, the kids were loud,
Kids are cruel, their jeers I heard
“He’s no good,” that summed it up
I hadn’t yet sung a single word

But still I sat there on a stool and strummed on my guitar
I started up a song I wrote
The opening, a few bars
The quiet song rose oer the throng
Can’t see -- the lights were blinding me
Before the first line ended you could have dropped a pin
I don’t remember afterwards
But knew I’d scored a win
That’s when I knew my dad was there
His words rang in my mind
I sang the song my father left behind

Written February 28, 2022, part of FAWM 2022

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