Do I Forgive?

Do I Forgive?
Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
July 12, 2023

Progeny should always make parents proud
At least that’s how it should be
The story doesn’t always roll out that way
I’ll elucidate for you to see
A father’s love is sometimes tempered
By expectations falling short of dreams
A son born from a very different mold
Should not have been born or so it seems
But “retrospect” plays games with the mind
All the “good” camouflaged by the pain
Still, twenty years of ignoring a son
Can make blood boil in every sensitive vein
But then again there were nature walks
With a dad so excited to share
Simple pleasures of nature that nurtured my soul
Made my dad seen ever so dear
And then how he’d sing out with glee and panache
Billy Eckstine he’d pretend to be
Mom would roll eyes and push him away
But what joy that would bring to me
I recall one day tears rolled from his eyes
As my musical passion created a tune
On that organ he purchased knowing oh so well
A musical “prodigy” I would be very soon
Then the boy who was meant to live a genuine life
Shared what should be a wondrous revelation
And a father’s eyes grew dim and saddened
By words of great devastation
Bigotry and ignorance are powerful forces
That tear and rip families apart
They pierce the very essence of love
And break a kind child’s fragile heart
So a schism was forged over twenty years
Until death came to knock on his door
Too late for love to rekindle again?
His days on earth would be no more
So now I shall choose to forgive, not forget
For a victim he was as well
Poisoned by what society had taught
Lessons that bigots would gladly tell
Forgiving is a potent healing balm
I will choose to remember the good
And remember the man who I called dad
Only love shall remain as it should