my father figure

i remember my father well

he was a man

he was one of those people

john wayne played in those old movies

your best friend

or your worst nightmare

and you could choose for your self


he had a very impressive presence

i remember one time

when he heard me pop off at my mother

(some sort of male adolescent hormone thing)

he quietly said come here boy

we went into another room

where he said to me

if you don't respect that woman

because she's your mother

that's my wife

and i don't want you talking that way to her

which i never did again

and appreciated the reminder

and do to this day