A Father's Art Poem by Peter Strugnell

If only I knew then what I know now,
would things have changed? I doubt somehow,
I was ill armed to fight this war,
we were all too young to understand what we saw.

There's something broken behind those eyes,
buried long ago behind many denials,
muddled stories and tangled-up fate,
Oh if only I was stronger, but it's too late.

So thanks for the love though you don't understand,
why I feel this way, why things slipped through my hands,
too soft in the middle and too softly spoken,
I could never fix the thing that was broken.

I should have trusted myself & guided you better,
there were no rules that you could follow to the letter
I know you forgive me in the kindness of your heart,
for failing a bit, for failing my art.

Mysteries revealed with unraveling time,
scars and hurt that should have been left behind,
I speak in rhymes of influence and ties
way beyond that painful goodbye.