Conversations With My Father Poem by Lisa Wilson

Why couldn't you love me?

Baby girl, I didn't love myself.

That's no excuse. I was your daughter.

What can an old man say?
I'm sorry I couldn't be
the daddy you wanted.

I didn't ask for much.

Just no way to win
Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I don't want to hear any more of your excuses.
You're a liar. And a cheat. I hate you.

Baby girl,
if you understood
anything about being a black man
in this country,
you might not see me
as the big, bad, wicked man
you think I am.