For the Men Who Raised Other Men’s Kids

This praise is for the men who helped or raised other men’s kids
They may not be your genes but it means something else for the good that you did
You have strength and durability
Because amid the turmoil when the shit hit the skids you kept a stiff upper lip and stayed
Father’s Day is way to say you too are honored for being brave in the crusade
You took on the responsibility

I can only imagine raising children at one point you may have been seen as a villain
When their lives were upside down or had a void and you came as in a fill-in
But you had a lot of love to give
And though at times when things seemed difficult and they may have acted indifferent
Sometimes a broken home is like an unknown war zone and many can be belligerent
But you knew that to hurt is also to forgive

And yet you endured, you were mature enough and tough to know the reality
That to love a woman is to also love her entire family and all of the insanity
You proved your self sufficiency
Sometimes you may have been nervous but at least you were earnest
Because underneath the surface your love had a special purpose
Building a home requires resiliency

You persisted and insisted thus you earned their love and their trust
The long walks and talks now make sense for everything discussed
Now I’m sure you feel even more glad
The love they learned you’ve earned has comeback like gold - sevenfold
Because no matter how old they are - the lesson has reached their soul
Now I’m sure they’re proud to call you dad

And to the man who helped raise my son, let me direct
You stepped up when I couldn’t, so you have my respect