Father-Son Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Father-son

He
He never complained
He never criticized
He was a dictionary; encyclopedia
And a story teller

And you had to be wise
You had to be ear
Ear everywhere
From head to heart
And mind; and...

"There was a man who had a son"
He'd say and you'd be happy:
"We are many sons so it's not me."
And he would go on:
"His son did something wrong."
And the story would not end:
The father said nothing
Silence was enough; the son realized
He tried to apologize.
He did not know how until:
"Dad, see my grades" showed his high marks.
Dad admired what he saw by:
"Grades are excellent but have you changed to human? "
‘The father-son story', as he said
Went on and on and on
Was repeated; to end of school
He became a doctor
He opened a clinic
He took the father to visit
The same old story:
"Great, people need doctor but did you...a human? "
And the son,
You,
Could see what he meant:
"Be human before anything else..."
And then you'd shiver.