My father tried his best and didn’t fail
at parenthood. He listened and advised,
took time for us and pointed out a trail
for us, and told us lessons he devised.
He missed a trick or two he should have caught,
but then he didn’t have the dad we do.
With him as his own guide he would have taught
him this, and later he would teach us, too:

“Of followers and leaders neither be,
but go your own unique and righteous way.
The vanguard ever lacks its privacy;
the herd knows only boredom and dismay.
I used to say you lead or take the rear,
but now I understand a sideways veer.”