my father is

my father is
so cruel to others
in his head
and so cruel
to himself

each person
part of a flawed system
he sees no person
but only flaws

if everything played out
as it was in his head
it would all be perfect
he knows

but we are just people
surviving as we can
not existing for his
perfect machine

you don’t need to
see every island
to enjoy a beach

you don’t need a goal
to enjoy an afternoon

retired yet
desperately working towards
what?

your ego leaves no room
for any play at all
and I fear these decades
building it cannot be undone

I love you dad
but I feel too small
for the space you take up

[1]

[2]