The Ability to Stand

I admire you more than you may ever know,

grateful for the love that you give me

as you allow me the room that I need to grow.

You're the only parent that I have

that always put me first,

comforting me... even sometimes distantly

instead of regarding me as if I were a curse.

You strengthen me to become better

than the person that I once was,

as I attempt to understand what it is that

you see in me that makes you love me

"Just Because."

You bluntly tell me when I'm wrong

and congratulate me when I do something right,

you calm me even from within the eye of the storm

when I personally see no end in sight.

I look up to you through it all,

as I arise from the ashes like a phoenix

even after I once again fall.

You may not be "perfect" but neither am I,

and yet you will always be someone special within my eyes

that encourages me to pursue my dreams...to try.

You stand beside me even as I struggle to remain up,

"Failure is not an option." You claim roughly

as you force me to be tough.

You taught me to still be strong

despite what life may throw at me,

for you saw through the problem to an end

that I myself couldn't see.

One day soon—Dad—I will make you proud of me,

as I go forth each new day with life

and become the woman that I was always meant to be.

For despite it all that may come I feel as if

my future actually might turn out bright,

because with you by my side

life somehow seems alright.