Dad Poem by Ulysses Cabinatan

My dad hid his emotion.
he is not the huggy type
nor the vocal type of expressing his love
have never heard him saying I love you
he would just express it in writing and in his diary I can get a cue

I like my Dad
Because he's brilliant and worked so hard
had a knowledge of almost everything
from esoteric, medicine to engineering

Though there are some thoughts and beliefs
My dad instilled in me
I want to remove it in my system
for me to have my own mark in existence

He didn't want his son
to work abroad or go elsewhere
he wanted all of us to be at home
reading and reading instead of enjoying the sun

but I'm the explorer type
I can't stay in a one place for a long time
I need to go out much often
not just stay at home counting one to ten

Dad just spent his weekend in his bed
He just wanted to read read read
Yes that's his line
to read, read, read, and learn

Maybe if not for him I will not be educated
because I didn't want to go to school
I remember my first grade
I cried hard cause I prefer to just play...

So I'm still thankful
to have a dad strict but thoughtful
now wish i can have a second dad
to talk, ask question or just to ask if this and that is good or bad.