Will’s relationship with his mom was bad, but the one with his dad has been virtually non-existent… and a few months ago, when William (Sr.) found out that Will’s brother Max was gay, he wanted nothing to do with his sons at all. Well, Will wasn’t going to let him have the final word. Not only did he visit his father in person, he had a song to write for him.
Oleander Petals
Strong hands never cradled me
Or helped me fix my tie
A deep voice never comforted
The little one who cried
The dim bulbs that need changing
Were always out of reach
Can a boy grow to his worth
When no one’s there to teach?
Oleander petals on her pillow
Words of love professed with venom’d tongue
Mom’s cheeks caressed, still rosy from your backhand
The air you breathed was CO in her lung
“dad” was always just a noun
I never deemed it proper
And when Mom called you other things
You made sure to stop her
Was it the drugs and alcohol
That fucked with your mindset
Made you name me after you
To help you not forget?
Oleander petals on her pillow
Words of love professed with venom’d tongue
Mom’s cheeks caressed, still rosy from your backhand
The air you breathed was CO in her lung
Mistook me for a quiet child
Thought I’d never say a word
Now I’ve come to see the man
And make sure that I’m heard
How can I look just like you
And still think who the hell
Is this person standing next to me
His frame, a soulless shell?
Without this father in my life
I never learned to brawl
Or how to hate for differences
In anything at all
I fell in love with someone
You would certainly oppose
But she and I will start a life
That’s nothing like you chose
Oleander petals on her pillow
Words of love professed with venom’d tongue
Mom’s cheeks caressed, still rosy from your backhand
The air you breathed was CO in her lung
Love Will ©2016 Lori L. Otto
Lori L. Otto, author 
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