Father's Day

Classically trained, is something I've never been

But I've learned a few lessons from the things I've seen

In trying to learn what life is and what it means

I've realised I can't trust those things I see on screens

A father, and a son.

A person, and a person.

One is old, one is young.

And they're all different, every one.

But I see the same relation again and again

Always a static figure contrasted with growing pain

A son learning how this world is so strange

The father out of touch and unwilling to change

There's bitterness between them, never too long

There's affecting between them, never too strong

Cookie cutter enough to appeal to the throngs

A neighbourhood nearby they could easily belong

And that's just it.

Why it's off just a bit.

Why this image doesn't sit.

Why it doesn't seem to fit.

People don't average out.

We're different in different ways.

We whisper and we shout.

We're different on different days.

We do things we'll regret, that we never repeat.

Others regretful things we do almost every week.

We wonder how we achieved our greatest feat.

Why our thoughts don't match the words we speak.

So: a son, and a dad.

Both good, both bad.

Both happy, both sad.

Both people, and a little mad.

On earth, there are millions of father-son relations

Each unique, dependent on the father-son situation.

The history, time of day, circumstances, and location

All with varying levels of infatuation.

With all this variety, I must remember mine isn't the same.

A son, Harry (that's me!), and my dad who I never call James

We are not the father-son relation that has reached such fame

We are our own thing, and that's no source of shame.

We've learned how to talk about difficult things.

We've seen each other struggle. And a little of what that struggle brings.

But we care for each other. In our own special, and honestly, quietly lovely way.

So, from this son,  I'll wish my Dad, a happy father's Day.