Photograph

Photograph 11/18/2013

My father sent me a message

But it took forty years

For me to understand

All about the secret of living

And what it really means

To be a man.

We see and we think

But we seldom

Follow it through

Because we are always too busy

Feeling our way instead.

Running in circles

And bumping into furniture

As we learn to keep our hands

Away from the stove.

Life is dumb like that

And the everyday is such a bore

As we endlessly repeat

The maintenance of living. 

Getting up and going to work

And beating ourselves to death

All for the privilege

Of getting up

And doing it again. 

Sometimes I cannot sleep

And sometimes I lay awake

Thinking of all I want to do

But never have the time.

What miracles have we lost

Because of what

We never tried

And what great pain we have inflicted

Just because, 

We did not know.

I saw it all

With my own two eyes

But nothing clicked

Between my brain and heart.  

But now the glass has broken

And now I can see

Every moment

And every nuance

Clear as day. 

It is a strange feeling

To lose so very much

And yet remain happy

And peaceful. 

Poignant pictures in black and white

And hand written notes

Faded and yellow

Scream at me from afar

Awake and rejoice.

I have stepped back in time

But I live in the present

Transfixed for a moment

And then pulled back in place.

My sons laughter

Jerks me back

And his quick eyes make me smile

He has it

And I have not lost. 

I pick him up,

And his arms

Close around my neck

Surprisingly strong

Like flexible steel bands.

Eye to eye

We laugh and laugh

And for him

I give my all.