A Father's Foolishness

Fixed he stands,
Locked within the foundation of his father's foolishness,
A life of ridicule and abuse.
He sees his life through the eyes of bitterness and anger.
Devoid of all self-esteem he views himself as nothing,
Unworthy, even, of the air he breathes.
Lashing out in frustration and futility without understanding his fate,
He inflicts injury with every act.
His only weapon,
The realization that he is worthy of respect and dignity,
Is in his hand;
Yet, if he is unable to free it and cleave the stone which shackles him,
He will sink beneath the mire,
Only to rise again,
And rebuild the foundation of his father's foolishness.

Douglas James Kilburg
The Woodsinger