Chilton Park

Chilton Park  4/26/2012 

We stopped at Chilton Park

And played football in the leaves

That golden fall day

Years ago

And far away.

All the family was together

And we rolled around

In the grass

Laughing and cavorting

In an otherwise forgotten day. 

I can still smell the air

And I feel my wool sweater

As my daughter and my sons

Jumped on top of me. 

Just another unscheduled memory

That shows up from time to time

Filed away with the others

In the cobwebs

Of my mind.   

So much has happened

That words alone

Cannot describe

And so far did I fall

That I barely know

That man at all.

He was sure

And he was happy

Just biding his time

Before a rich harvest. 

He didn’t need to search

Because happiness

Was all around him

Enough to last forever.

Images flash in our minds

And memories are flecked with gold

The edges softened

And glowing with warmth.

There is always joy

And there are always

New beginnings

But nothing is ever as intense

As the first glimpse
Of glory.

I have started again

But nothing is the same
Because now I have awakened
And now
I know.

I may never return

Because there is nothing left
Nothing but a ghost town
Far away from here.

I play with my baby

And yes I love him so
As innocent and as perfect
As any son could be.

But I wonder

What I should tell him
When he is old enough to know
About life, love, 
And rolling with the blows.

Should I tell him

That the good always triumph?
And should I tell him
That love conquers all?

Or should I prepare him

For the sudden losses
Or for the inevitable heartbreak
That always visits the innocent
And kills the noble.

These are the questions

That I still do not know
As I climb out of bed
And rise to another day. 

Here I am

And so also are you
Facing the challenge
Of another thankless day.

But remember

That even if it hurts
And even if you know
We can always build others up
Rather than tear them down.

Tonight when I return

I know what I will do
Striving to give him memories
That last forever.