Family Tree

My Mom

I am my mother's daughter
trying to live the life she wanted me to
but I never could do that very well.
Maybe now I can try
to live the life I want
for a change.



My Father

"Women bathe," he said.
"They keep themselves clean and smelling nice."

This he said to the little girl
who hated baths
But loved her father
and wanted to be a woman he was proud of.

"Women read," he said.
"They have interesting things to say."
This he said to the pre-teen
wearing a rented ballgown at the pageant
his money paid for.

This woman grew up
And got married
And remembered all the things
her father taught her
about how to be the kind of woman
that would attract the kind of man
who would love her
like her father does.

One who lets her be
the woman she became
because of his advice.