For My Fathers
By Robert Lennon – Billings, Montana, USA - 27 May 2012
This is for my father Adam
who taught me of my sin
and taught me of my labor
for the word cannot grow
except on prepared ground
This is for my father Abraham
who taught me of my exile
and taught me of my role
for the word cannot grow
except on prepared ground
This is for my father Benedict
who taught me of my prayer
and taught me of my silence
for the word cannot grow
except on prepared ground
This is for my fathers
who taught me by their words
and taught me by their deeds
for the word cannot grow
except on prepared ground
This is for my father
who taught me from his quiet mind
and taught me from his sins
for the word cannot grow
except on prepared ground
Blessed is he who follows
the precepts and laws of his father --
as the Prophet says
"He who honors his father atones for sins."
He has been set on the way of the just.