How do we forgive our fathers?
Do we forgive him for leaving, or do we forgive him for trying?
For the rage, or for the hand he raised?
Do we forgive him for marrying our mothers, or do we forgive him for not divorcing her?
For sleeping in our house, or for leaving and sleeping in a cheap motel somewhere else?
Do we forgive him for pushing, or do we forgive him for forgetting?
For speaking behind a closed door, or for slamming that door at all?
How do we forgive our fathers?
Cathy Shang
Cathy Shang is a Chinese 17 year old student studying in Shanghai, China in Shanghai American School Pudong Campus. She writes poetry as a form of self expression and in hope of capturing the intensely important emotions of the human experience. Her writing focuses primarily on fleeting dreams and sentiments from stories of her life so far, as well as the weight of silence as a form of communication. In her spare time, she likes to make digital art and animation, and compete in parliamentary debate.
