As a young boy of seven
My father who was an ex Marine
Took me aside and told me the facts of life
He thought I should know for my own protection
He was right
Girls dream of boys and going steady
Boys don't have a clue on what to do about girls
So they whack off to air brushed beauties
Hiding their feelings on a t-shirt
Which soon becomes stained with dried guilt
When mother discovers
The secret shroud still damp with the fact
Her son has been unfaithful too...
At the tender age of fourteen
My father who was then an ex Husband
Of my guilt dishing less than loving mother
Took me aside to tell me
Another of his many profundities
He thought it important for purposes of development
That I know what it meant to be a follower of men
Or reverse that situation and become a leader
He was right once again
For the man who follows the leader is a fool
And the man who is a leader is followed by fools
It is better to solitarily take each step alone
The fall from grace is just as far but occurs at only half the speed
2007 © T Sheridan
Ted Sheridan
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-father-s-chain-of-command-he-took-no-prisoners/
