Why should we carry the names
Of our fathers?
Like it were a badge of pride,
For the alcoholics they’ve become,
For all the times
We were swatted from view,
Or scorned for our dislike of peas.
Why should we carry the names
Of our fathers?

The decrypt bodies,
With lifeless eyes,
Heads dragging
As we hold the burden.

Must we carry
The names of our fathers?
And why should we,
If we must?
Being remembered for the
Shameless and the prowess
Of our fathers,
Instead of the acts of our own.
Why are we handed clay
That already has shape and form,
And is unwilling to change.

Why not instead wear the names,
Of our mothers, and take that with us.
Remembering the times she kissed our knees
Or wiped the tears away with a touch.
The eyes of our mothers are not as dim,
As the eyes of our fathers,
So, why do we carry the weight of our fathers?
When we can carry the memories of,
Carrying and kindness,

Is it because of the way we were raised?
Told that men must become fathers one day,
And let the light drift from their eyes,
Like it was the tastes of sweet candy,
Turned sour in the mouth.

 
When Kemal Onor began his education at Johnson State College he had no idea he would end up graduating with a BFA in creative writing, in fact, when he began back in the fall of 2010 he was a music major. In his free time he wrote and worked on various scribblings, which he thought would never amount to much; in his Sophomore year he made the switch to creative writing, and ever since, he hasn’t been happier. He has been the recipient of the VSC/JSC fellowship twice, and he is currently applying for MFA programs in creative writing. He has greatly enjoyed the opportunities of working with professor Jensen Beach and has also enjoyed his time spent at Johnson State College. Onor hopes to continue his writing pursuits long after graduation, with the desire of becoming a novelist. ​