DAD.

Learning you were never obligated to love me by the great joke called Biology

Learning all the gifts you gave me—

How all those songs go,

How to protect myself from a bully,

How to live up to my elusive potential and recklessly pursue my dreams—

These were gifts freely given.

You succeeded where DNA failed,

Where other men have failed.

Learning about everything you sacrificed for a small, strange monkey hugging your legs?

That made me value you more,

Never less.

DNA is not what makes a parent.

Bravery does.

DNA is not what makes a child.

Love does.