for the sake of our children

there are many things
we must forsake

for the sake of our children

the moment they are conceived
we must bid farewell to vice
the freedom of irresponsibility

we even give up
the luxury of suicide

my father taught me that

there is nothing that will drill a chasm
in the soul of a child
like your last act on earth
forever ringing

i didn’t love you enough to stay alive

thank you for that lesson
on behalf of my sons
dad

if not
i would be just another dead thing
floating in the ohio river