the replacement

my father
this man
who used to be
strong, fierce
able to fix anything
that needed fixing
able to build
from a pile of
brick or lumber
structures that
will stand for
decades still to come
this man
who took care of
everyone and anything
that needed taking care of
has been replaced
by someone who
can't tie his shoes
or walk across the room
who sits and nods off
in mid-sentence
and forgets that
you are there
this replacement
is a man i don't know
a man i would prefer
to have never met