you make me proud

you make me proud

for the way

you have continued

to try,

when it would

have been

so understandable

to give in;

kept on

fighting,

when it would

have been

so easy

to quit;

you make me proud

that you did not let

small people,

with small minds,

drag you down

to the small places

where they are;

that you did not

allow anyone,

(including me),

to turn you

from the vision

of the future

that you seek;

and that you

never will;

you make me proud

not just because

I am your father,

you make me proud

because I know you

as a person;

as a friend.

.

.