My Father's Glory

Guest post by Ayo Sekai

When I remember my childhood with my father

the most powerful emotion that engulfs me

is how much I love him

Regardless of my pain and feelings of resentment I might feel over a lost childhood, I never could convince myself that my father never wanted me happy....

I think of the obscenities that he would use to cut through my thoughts and thought it was his way of saying never use them

I remember the emotional turmoil, being depressed and discouraged and smiled,

because I believed it was his way of saying he’s proud.

Even when he called me worthless in many ways and more, I knew in my heart that he was

saying he believed in me, but didn’t know how

In his smiles, I found such pleasure

I saw beyond his eyes

And I felt he wanted to hold me

He even did once or twice.....

But the most precious memory I hold dear

The one that means the most

Is the pride I feel as I relate that my dad and I were close

If you ever saw us, you’d never believe this day

My father and I are distanced, separated, and far away.

The one thing I wanted from my father

The one wish that I have

Is my father to give me the respect I thought I had earned

As his child and as his offspring, I don’t think I ask too much

for my father to say he’s sorry, build bridges and build trust....

My dad has grown older and so have I, the travel back is far and wide

I’m his child and he’s my father

and in my heart, he will always reside.

July 9, 1994

Ayo Sekai is the Chief Executive Officer at Universal Write Publications, LLC and a current Doctoral (Ph.D.) student at Howard University (Black Politics and International Affairs). Universal Write Publications (UWP) has a publishing purpose to produce social, anthological, and ethnographical scholarship that dignifies the rich histories of the culturally diverse peoples who make up our society. We want to strengthen the voices of the diaspora through pioneering works that blend the creativity through which Griots tell stories with the necessity of peer-reviewed publications. Be it pieces on cultural heritage, education, the environment, visual arts, or innovators, our books are well researched and richly illustrated, appealing to general readers as well as academic researchers.