I’m Becoming My Father
I’m becoming my father
It started some years ago
I’d notice little things
Sometimes tiny things
A glimpse in the bathroom mirror
Passing by I’d see the resemblance
My double take pause
My father seemingly watching me
Questioning the reality of it
The tickling brain rush growing
Momentarily in its grip
Until a conversational release
Or another welcome distraction
Just enough to break the bond
And a quick subject change
At least until another time
Rinse, spin, repeat it seemed
But that was then and this is now
The years have passed
Tiny things long forgotten
Little things have nurtured
Grown and aged like a fine wine
Spread, developed, and redefined
When denial no longer has a place
But embrace hasn’t fully held
My hair once brown, his black
Colors erased by time
Now a matching silver-grey
The wrinkles aside my eyes
Mannerisms inherited
And I swear my voice has changed
Out come the words of another
I do give much better advice
Learned from an expert
Who suddenly sounds like me
Or is it me like he?
It’s everything and so much more
So many things this sudden claim
My shirts now even fit the same
Like the man who shared his name
His heart and wisdom too
A father’s love beyond compare
Gave me praise when it was due
Held me up when necessary
Fed my mind and fed my soul
Memories of conversations
Even those that didn’t take
Taught me more than anyone
Made me who I am today
Lucky me,
I’m becoming my father
And I couldn’t be happier
For a better man never lived
Additional Reading
R.J. (Ralph) Schwartz is an American poet, author, website owner, and online publisher. His writing spans several poetry collections—ranging from spiritual and romantic to fear-driven explorations—and even extends into science fiction. Notable works include:
-
Hope – Inspirational and Spiritual Poetry
-
Things That Go Bump in the Night – Poetry of Fear and Fright
-
The Lover’s Thread – Poetry for Couples
-
Poetry of the Human Condition – The Ups and Downs of Modern Living
-
The Secrets of the Moon (a sci-fi novel co-authored with his son Sebastian J. Schwartz)
Schwartz’s work is described as purposefully wordy, richly descriptive, and thematically grounded in nature, romance, antiquity, and forgotten histories. He writes regularly on platforms he manages, including The Creative Exiles, a collaborative venue for writers, and The Gypsy Thread, which delves into offbeat histories, pagan lore, and poetry.
- Involuntary Enlistment in the Continental Army - May 15, 2026
- Two Sides of the Tracks – You Can Only Choose One - May 15, 2026
- The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - May 11, 2026
