Driving Lessons

You taught me everything I know
don't own up
Important life lessons
keep track of all wrongs
Commitments are easy
showing up's hard
Make lots of plans
don't follow through
What it means to be a man
tally your scores
Apples don't fall far from the tree
use a subtle putdown
Family's invaluable
hide them when necessary
Love and money are important
keep them both in a safe
Start many projects
leave things undone
When looking for love
it's the outside that counts
Chip off the old block
win at all costs
In construction and life
build really strong walls
Give advice, favors, and gifts
bind with strings, contracts, and law
How to drive a car
don't spill the open container
Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are free
no, that was someone else

--Shenandoah Lynd