How would America be different if we gave the gift of forgivness to all our fathers on father's day

Forgiving our Fathers..... by Dick Lourie...... This poem is read during the last scene in Smoke Signals


Maybe in a dream: he's in your poweryou twist his arm but you're not sure it washe that stole your money you feel calmerand you decide to let him go freeor he's the one (as in a dream of mine)I must pull from the water but I neverknew it or wouldn't have done it untilI saw the street-theater play so close upI was moved to actions I'd never before takenmaybe for leaving us too often orforever when we were little maybefor scaring us with unexpected rageor making us nervous because there seemednever to be any rage there at allfor marrying or not marrying our mothersfor divorcing or not divorcing our mothersand shall we forgive them for their excessesof warmth or coldness shall we forgive themfor pushing or leaning for shutting doorsfor speaking only through layers of clothor never speaking or never being silentin our age or in theirs or in their deathssaying it to them or not saying it -if we forgive our fathers what is left