by Melissa Mercer

Created on: April 01, 2010   Last Updated: August 19, 2011

I Understand Now


My Uncle Charlie use to scare me when I was young.
He had such a deep voice, where did it come from?
I use to think that he was just to mean.
But he worked so hard to give them everything.
My parents weren’t around enough to care.
But my Uncle Charlie was always there.
For my cousin Tonya, and Shawn.
Making sure they knew right from wrong.
I thought he was too strict, on them both.
Looking back now, I wish we were close.
I never got to know him that well.
I wish I had, for I’ve been through Hell.
I would have never had to go through the things I did.
What I wouldn’t give, to have a dad like him.
He took them bowling, every weekend.
When I seen them together, I envied them.
I didn’t know why he tried so hard, or how.
But as I look at my daughter, I understand now.

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