For My Dad.

Dad,
Where do I begin?
Do I tell you I love you?
Do I tell you that I aspire to be half of what you are?
Do I tell you that even though I'm 25 I'll always try to make you happy?
Do I tell you that since I was little,
I've always admired you?

Truth be told
You'll probably never hear any of this.
You're not the guy who listens to poetry
And heartfelt cries of a lost wordsmith.
Truth of the matter be known?
You've been through too much for that.
You work too much, put up with too much,
And definitely care too much.

So you'll not hear me say these words
But you'll know
You'll know because in the hardest times in my life
I'll come to you.
We'll sit and have a drink
Talk candidly
You'll tell me for the hundredth time
You can't make my decisions for me
You'll tell me to trust myself, one more time
And I'll look into your cool grey eyes and I'll doubt everything.
But you you know what?

I'll know.
The strength I have
Is from you
The determination to keep going
It's from you.
And oddly enough?
My deep felt laugh;
That's from you too.

You've taught me to be strong by example
You've taught me to lead through patience
You've taught me to smile when things get bad
And most of all
You taught me to love passionately, by wiping away tears,
And hugging me so tightly my ribs were bruised.
You've shown me what it takes to be a parent.

So I want to thank you
With words you'll never hear
With actions I hope you see
With glimpses of you in me
By letting you ruffle my hair even when I spent two hours on it
By showing you,
Everyday
That I am proud
To be your daughter.