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

[An owl on the moon]

Oh, Tate... I remember those days... felt the pain... And here you've also shared so much about growing stronger... becoming more mature through the experience... Beautifully profound... Thank you for sharing something so personal...

[OT]

heartfelt poem about the relationship between father and son - the bonding - the meter is strong in this one too - it all flows very well! nice!

[Cassandra D.]

This was a very nice poem!
I truly loved the 2nd stanza. It really shows a father/son bonding experience!

[Bridget Mcmaken]

Wonderful poem. It saddnes a lot of parents to see their children grow up. The poem flows nicely, very well written. It's also great to hear the story behind the poem. I am sorry that has happend to you, it's very kind of your son to help you fix up the place. Great poem Tate very heart warming and tocuhing!!! Thank you so much for sharing.

[Richard Williams]

A touching poem of a father's relation to his son. A ease of love, a gentle offering to the reader with style befitting to the parental connection along with poetic reasoning. One can drift along in comfort with the writer, and sense the bond accentuated with pride.

[LA Lorena]

A stellar write Tate. So much of what children learn is done by rote; knowledge crammed into brains only to be quickly forgotten when no longer necessary. True values, knowledge and wisdom are instilled, not memorized. As a parent, you have done your job well. As a poet, the same applies.

[tynamite]

Growing up is about moving on from the way things were. You're right. I had to read this again. You and your son are lucky that he wanted to help rebuild the house, and that you was there to see it. You don't see that everyday. The love in this is striking.

[Sarah]

I can't imagine what you went through with this. This poem was fantastic! My favorite line is
"A telling breeze played through the tree's saying my boy was now a man." Wonderful! You did a great job with telling a story through a poem! I look forward to more!

[Phibby Venable]

i love how you tell this, the flame leaping in your heart as you realize
your loss and what was gained.

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Fantastic...!!!!