The Ties That Bind

My son thought it an adventure learning how to build on real scale Who could say they don't love the day when their sons light shone in detail

My son thought it an adventure

learning how to build in full scale

Who could say they don't love the day

when their boy's light shone in detail

 

We had worked into the evening

my son and I together played

Sharing the trials exchanging smiles

rebuilding the home where we stayed

 

He felt this would be a great test

knowing on him I would depend

I think he knew as I did too

that summer was about to end

 

I drift back in dreams to the day

we both held to our love of clan

The autumn breeze played through the trees

saying my boy was now a man

 

Johnny Cash   Home of the Blues 

Author's Note

Our house had suffered smoke damage last summer. It was a telling time for sure. But through it all my son stood by me. He and he alone helped me rebuild what we had lost. I realized when he turned down going to meet friends for a trip to Cedar point just to help me finish our new deck that he was a man. But as we passed smiles back and forth I also knew I was losing my little boy. It is a great feeling to know you have done well by your child. It is also so sad to realize that the day will soon come that I will have to let go. I can say when a man is a boy all the new days ahead are adventures. But to a father time seems to test your resilience. While everything is exciting to the young who find it new. Life makes us grow when older by learning to let go.

Reviews

[Dakota]

Homespun, heartfelt and sweetly reminsant. What great memories for both you and your son!

[Joiedevivre]

beautiful! sentimental, nostalgic, telling and edifying all at once. A glimpse into the life of a stranger that makes him feel a friend. Lovely.

[lawrence bear]

I liked this, how you expressed your closeness with your son watching him grow from a boy to a young man, and how he wanted to stay and help rebuild instead of going to school with friends, instead of running and playing, or hanging out, he opt to be with you in this difficult time. Indeed he took it upon himself to help and took responsibility to be there for you. In those moments I seen what was once a boy, now became a man he is today. Thank you for sharing Tate, I wish you and your family all the best.

lawrence

[DeadToTheWorld]

I just want to say that I'm sorry about your house burning down I'm sure it was a terrible ordeal to go through...When I first started reading this...I didn't know what to expect...but as I neared the end I realized that what I was reading was fantastic...you do have a great son...your poem was awe inspiring...

[SamBug]

This was a wonderful poem!!

[Halkhend]

This is beautiful it is good that you son was so willing to help out you just dont see much of that now people are much to worried about what everyoneelese is doing to go home and help out their momma you also did a wonderful job of potraying it in this poem

[Nilesh Ratnam]

that's the normal routine of life at some parts of the country....
n that's the true picture of life...

[Angel's Lady]

The things that threaten our lives either pull us apart or bring us closer together. I'm very glad no one was hurt.

[Murtuza]

Really touching. I'm inspired by your story. Very well-written!

[No use.]

the subtle surreality and resilience shine through~ you and your son are amazing! i loved this one Tate!!