Poem: Best Of Both

He says
He failed
That there’s no way
I could love him.
She says
She worries
That she didn’t teach me
Everything she needed to .
I want to say
But don’t know how
That they taught me all
I need to know.
That if it weren’t for them
I wouldn’t be
The man I am today.
I learned from them
How to observe and be aware.
How to stay informed.
How to think for myself
Make my own choices.
How to choose what is right
Over what is easy.
How to love
Even in conflict.
How to speak up
Have my voice heard
Among a plethora of others.
I listened and I learned
From years of small moments
Little lessons
Throw-away lines.
I took the best of both:
Her compassion and care
Gentle understanding
Service and devotion.
His love of play
His ability to be
Wise and reserved
And ready to help
At a drop of a hat.
I took from them both
The love of magic
The belief in hope and love.
The best of both of them
Lives in me.
And pours outward in blessing
To those in great need.