FRUITS OF THE HEART

As long as I can remember 
I had these strange feelings
Living deep inside 
I wanted to plant a rose garden 
But father said 
Those were feminine desires 

Go play you some football 
A boy should be rugged and rough 
Lift some weights or shoot the hoops 
Stop with those little girls stuff

I did my best to please him
In doing so 
I became battered and bruised 
And when I tried to explain my feelings 
He called me a wussy 
And said I was damn confused 

The years propelled me into adulthood 
I graduated college with a masters degree
But the words of my father continued to haunt me
In my mind I would never be free

I fell in love with a stranger 
It was love at first sight 
I woke up with a serious hangover
Trying to recall what happened that night 

Pealing away the covers 
This stranger's face was revealed 
The struggles I'd fought with for years 
Were no longer in darkness concealed.

Wilford Barker.