not this, that, the father

never as brother or teacher

not as scientist or son

no as soldier

never as an uncle

whether to a hundred or one

nor as inheritor or winner

never as champion or number one

not as warrior or savior

not as a conqueror to billion

and one

can't be an astronaut because

I long ago said no to one sun

never a playwright or simple dreamer

no to airtight forthright and

the seal of simple fun

always a father first

and forthright

for this is where it's done

remember me this way, my daughter

it's all there ever was