Like my Father

I have seen the honest man shake with rage,
eyes lost.
I have seen the liar cover eyes to safely gauge
the wisdom streaming down,
the rotten teeth the plastic crown,
the empty car whose engine revs and idle drown
the noises in my mind,
the phantom of his voice dead
but the headlights still shine.

I have seen the weak foundation,
I have seen the cost of fear,
I have seen the courage in the man that shifts the gear
out of the rotten roots of road.

Now here safe from shadow,
I am ready for the heavy load.