A Poem To …

This is a poem to john
I do not capitalize the name
Of a hypocrite
Of a racist
Of a let-down
Of a screaming lunatic
She says that this is not my battle to fight
That I shouldn’t hate him for what he did to her
I nod
I do not capitalize the name
Of an abusive husband
Of a self-centered man
Of a liar
When I call home I do not ask to speak to you
What would I say? Things I do not mean?
So, pass the phone
I do not capitalize the name
Of a man who won’t help himself
Of an abandoner
Who will come to my graduation? people ask
Well, all of the family members that matter, of course
But not him
I do not capitalize the name
Of a father