Father

I never knew my father,

When I asked about him, 

my mother would talk about his temper,

the way he’d yell,

I swore never to be my father,

but time opens new doors.

I promised I wouldn’t be like him,

I would be kind,

gentle and soft,

and I am,

But I can’t hide the anger.

I hold the anger,

I refuse to shout,

but sometimes it comes out,

my voice turns into his,

as my voice gets louder and frustrated,

My voice is replaced with his.

I never knew my father,

yet somehow I gained his anger,

It doesn’t get terrible much,

but I sense his presence every time.

I swore I’d never be like my father,

I thought ‘how hard could that be?’

Now I realize,

that promise made a fool of me.