The First Man In My Life

He was a very special man, He worked hard all his days

Put his five children above all else, he was surely set in his ways

Extremely strict, with my sisters and me, With the boys, they could do no wrong

I didn't understand at that time, but I know that it made me strong

Why as kids, don't we understand, what our parents are trying to do?

I know now, they'd been through it all, and don't want it happening to you

I remember a time, I did something wrong, he was furious, I truly was grounded

My Mom, she was the lenient one, and found a way around it

"Be home before your father," she'd say, "And he won't even find out"

You bet if he did, all Hell would break loose, the punishment would be worse, no doubt

Now I'm a parent, I see what they mean, raising a child is really so hard

You mold their lives for eighteen years, so their souls do not get scarred

I wasn't scarred, no wrongs were done, and Dad, to you I salute

The tough love you instilled back then, it made my life absolute

I dedicate this poem to you, because we're miles apart

You passed away many years ago, and I miss you with all my heart