On Becoming a Better Man, Human, and Father

They will never have to write that poem

T

Never!

They will never write that poem.
And they will never write those words

They will never write about
the father who wasn’t there.
The father who didn’t care.
who didn’t run his fingers
through their hair.

They will never have to write those words of pain
of the father that didn’t show them how to claim
their place in this world.

NO!
Not these girls.

They will never write that poem about how
they just couldn’t get his approval. His admiration. His love.

They won’t write that poem of abusive father who
beat them with sticks and stones and words of hate.

NO.
My girls will never have to write that piece.

Those words will never see pen to paper.
Thought to speech.
Pain to tear.

Because.
I am here.

By Teevee Aguirre
On Becoming a Better Man, Human, and Father