As a young boy of seven <br />My father who was an ex Marine <br />Took me aside and told me the facts of life <br />He thought I should know for my own protection <br />He was right <br />Girls dream of boys and going steady <br />Boys don't have a clue on what to do about girls <br />So they whack off to air brushed beauties <br />Hiding their feelings on a t-shirt <br />Which soon becomes stained with dried guilt <br />When mother discovers <br />The secret shroud still damp with the fact <br />Her son has been unfaithful too... <br />At the tender age of fourteen <br />My father who was then an ex Husband <br />Of my guilt dishing less than loving mother <br />Took me aside to tell me <br />Another of his many profundities <br />He thought it important for purposes of development <br />That I know what it meant to be a follower of men <br />Or reverse that situation and become a leader <br />He was right once again <br />For the man who follows the leader is a fool <br />And the man who is a leader is followed by fools <br />It is better to solitarily take each step alone <br />The fall from grace is just as far but occurs at only half the speed <br /> <br />2007 © T Sheridan<br /><br />Ted Sheridan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-father-s-chain-of-command-he-took-no-prisoners/
