Lost Titles

Father.
So many equate this word
With the idea that
He took care of you.
Father
Simply means
You have half his DNA.
Dad,
Now that is a word that means
Something.
A DAD
Loves his children.
A DAD
Makes his children feel
Safe.
A DAD
Protects his children:
Protection in many ways.
A DAD
Doesn't just protect their bodies:
If that was the case,
A bullet proof vest would be
A DAD.
No, a DAD
Protects his children's
Hearts.
If he can't do that,
Is "Dad,"  technically his title?
The answer is
No.
A DAD
Puts his children before
Himself.
My "Dad"
Chose something.
That something
Wasn't me.
That something
Wasn't my brother.
That something
Wasn't even a person.
That something
Must mean everything
To a man
Who cares about
Nothing.
So holding the title of
"Dad"
Is no longer an option.
Maybe
If he would have considered the
Consequences,
He could still call himself a
DAD.
Now,
He is just a man.
No, he isn't even that.
He is a
Boy
Because MEN don't
Give up.
And he
Did.