When a Son Loses His Father

Now that he's without him what is he working for He had never truly realized His dad drove him to want more With working came acceptance replaced emotions he concedes and his father unavailable, he kept his schedule filled with deeds, When his father passed away it broke him to the core just learning he and his dad had things in common they stood for His dad had loved unconditionally, despite his character flaws and perhaps was thinking he'd call his son when the winter thaws but winters came and went and neither reached to call yet they truly loved each other despite their voices being awol His imperfect life with his Dad, is now the oddest gift he treasures He's vowed to be a father for his sons to proudly measure He says "I love you" to his kids, and has being saying so for many years then thinks of what he missed with his Dad, and it reduces him to tears Nothing can make that emptiness go he carries the lesson learned Knowing now to speak his love out loud not said to be returned When a son loses his father a part of himself fades into the light as do the words he rarely stated, like, "Dad, nice to hear from you tonight" or picking up the phone to say, "hi dad, did you just hear", are calls he wished he'd made while he wipes away a tear, Now in a prayer he says, "I love you Dad", to the heavens he kneels and pleads and wonders if his fathers knows that his love's so strong, it bleeds "Dad, in case you didn't know it, I love you more than I can say I always tell my kids I love them I learned that the hard way, and in my heart, my father, you shall always stay".