I remember when winter came and you would come inside

Your hands would be as cold as ice

You would put them so close to the heater

I could see the pain as the warmth would slowly return

You never let on that they were hurting

The whippings as a child you gave me

You cried much more than I 

When the day came that I was leaving

Going out on my own

How your eyes mixed with pain and pride. 

I left and returned many times

You taught me to see through my eyes

To listen with both heart and mind

Born with both white and red blood

I struggled to find out who I really was

Both mom and dad you were to me

The best of both worlds

Is what you gave to me

A dad by heart but not blood

Thank you, my Dad

For my life