My Father's Voice

It was not until I lost his guidance

that I discovered I was still a child

Without the comfort of his voice

I was filled with questions

I felt only a father could answer

As I grew to accept adulthood

'twas not regret that pained me

nor even my landmarks he wouldn't see

I came to understand the wisdom

of his loving admonishments

to make paths of my own, to learn

Every heated debate about the

"little things" grew to kernals of

wisdom, with which I lined my road.

At each turn of the tide, my father's

words came to me like beacons

so that I might clearly see my choices

and know my own answers

I spend my life knowing he would

not always agree, but always approve.

I look back, not for nostalgia

but to re-learn the most precious lessons

because he believed in goodness and respect

because he was both strong and gentle

I believe I can be too because

he taught me.