When I was young <br />My Dad drank a lot <br />He still does <br />Though less than he used to <br />Now he waters it down <br />With a dash of lemonade <br />A little bit of sweet light bitterness <br />To go with his light bitter beer <br />He likes a drink, my Dad <br />Has done for a very long time <br />He's a good man <br />Has been for as long as I've known him <br />Like me, he has a bad temper <br />And if fuelled by strong spirits <br />We sometimes lose it <br />I remember when I was a boy <br />Him throwing me down the hall <br />Oh, I probably deserved it <br />But I also remember him <br />Kicking the footy with me <br />In the back yard <br />And him off working hard for us <br />Over the years I've noticed something <br />He's a man of great integrity, my Dad <br />I got sore at him a few times <br />When he didn't take my side <br />It seemed disloyal to me <br />When I was hurting <br />And needed him with me <br />In my corner <br />But now I realize <br />I was in the wrong <br />And he's not in that business <br />Of taking sides <br />He gives most a fair go <br />And has a genuine regard for people <br />Sure, like me, he's made mistakes <br />But I'm so damned proud <br />To call him my Dad<br /><br />Dean Meredith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-dad-12/
