Sunday, June 18, 2023

Forgiving our fathers


Author: Dick Laurie, amended by Sherman Alexie 

How do we forgive our Fathers? 
Maybe in a dream 
Do we forgive our Fathers for leaving us too often or forever 
when we were little? 

Maybe for scaring us with unexpected rage 
or making us nervous 
because there never seemed to be any rage there at all. 

Do we forgive our Fathers for marrying or not marrying our Mothers? 
For divorcing or not divorcing our Mothers? 

And shall we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness? 
Shall we forgive them for pushing or leaning 
for shutting doors 
for speaking through walls 
or never speaking 
or never being silent? 

Do we forgive our Fathers in our age or in theirs 
or their deaths 
saying it to them or not saying it? 

If we forgive our Fathers what is left?

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