How do we forgive our fathers?
Maybe in a dream?
Do we forgive our fathers
for leaving us too often,
or forever,
when we were little?
Maybe for scaring us
with unexpected rage,
or making us nervous because
there never seemed to be
any rage there at all?
Do we forgive our fathers
for marrying, or not marrying
our mothers?
For divorcing or not divorcing
our mothers?
And shall we forgive them
for their excesses of warmth,
or coldness?
Shall we forgive them
for pushing,
or being,
or shutting doors,
or speaking through walls,
or never speaking
or never being silent?
Do we forgive our fathers
In our age
or in theirs?
Or in their deaths,
saying it to them,
or not saying it?
If we forgive our fathers
what is left?
Maybe in a dream?
Do we forgive our fathers
for leaving us too often,
or forever,
when we were little?
Maybe for scaring us
with unexpected rage,
or making us nervous because
there never seemed to be
any rage there at all?
Do we forgive our fathers
for marrying, or not marrying
our mothers?
For divorcing or not divorcing
our mothers?
And shall we forgive them
for their excesses of warmth,
or coldness?
Shall we forgive them
for pushing,
or being,
or shutting doors,
or speaking through walls,
or never speaking
or never being silent?
Do we forgive our fathers
In our age
or in theirs?
Or in their deaths,
saying it to them,
or not saying it?
If we forgive our fathers
what is left?