affection

"Affection is a lily-livered sentiment, for lovers
and mothers. Respect is what a father should detect
in a son." Respect? One-sided, funnelled
and unrequited? Your plight deserves a smirk.
You irk me with your worthy woffle, greedily
pleading for laurels I never thought to award.
Lordly example falls far short
of the oughts and shoulds that inject filial respect.
You've checked my finger-nails are clean, and ringed
single items, enumerated on a list,
systematically patterning my conduct for a day,
rail-roaded to insignificant ends.
You regiment me till I'd like to say:
"Go stuff your rules. I'll find my own someday."