Father's Day (4) (Making Lemon Into Lemonade) Poem by U Win Kyi

My father beat my mother,
setting a very bad example.
But I did not follow that.
I love my wife very much.

My father was a chronic smoker,
causing him a malignant lung cancer.
But a cigarette I never touch,
because I know it is not good for my lung and heart.

My father was a heavy drinker
causing him cirrhosis of liver.
Even beer I never drink,
because I know it will put my health on the brink.

My father was very poor,
because he was a lazy worker,
As poverty hit very hard,
making my fighting-spirit very tough.

Those were blessings in disguise,
a good lesson for my life.
I suffered a lot by those bad habits.
I don't want my wife and kids suffer a bit.
I want to be father-unlike son,
giving my family warmth like a dawning sun.