Father

He holds your little fingers
and keeps you from falling.
teaches you to walk
and to run when time's calling.
He sees himself in you
and warns you of the paths
he already walked through 
and failed.

He tells you of the things which last
of heroes who succeeded in past
of lessons which he thinks are must
of value of honest crust.
He fulfills his desires
mostly by fulfilling yours.
He leads you in your early days
in hope of one day being led by you.

He tells you everything he knows
about the sorrows and how it grows
about the joy, how it is brought
in darkness of life, how light is sought.
And a father dreams
for you to be better than him,
To live the new ways
and fulfill his ultimate dream.