One Father to Another

Behind those eyes then rose a tear the first blood I had ever drew From the depths of his tiny soul where innocence bid me adieu

Son Tate

Each day my son with thoughtful eyes

looked up to me through his laughter

Knowing I would be kind and wise

from that time and ever after

 

 

Once bitten from pain of divorce

I had shed teardrops of my own

From depths my boy had drug me back

he had never left me alone

 

 

Then came the moment I had feared

when my temper did hurt my son

Deep like the pain from my divorce

left me to ask, "what have I done"

 

 

Behind those eyes there rose a tear

the first blood I had ever drew

From the depths of his tiny soul

where innocence bid me adieu

 

 

Fearing grief would hinder his sleep

and not knowing what I should say

I looked to find him in slumber

there beside our picture he lay

 

 

Asleep in pain his eyes had closed

I felt my heart begin to moan

A sole tear lie upon his cheek

where I left a few of my own

So now whenever I am asked

to bless him with my permission

I think on what I lost that day

when I forced on him submission

Author's Note

Whenever my son asks for my permission I always ask myself now, who will it hurt if I say yes? If the answer is only myself I always say yes. A lesson I learned the hard way. It seems I learn best that way. I should say the reference in this poem to blood being spilled was metaphoric, not literal. In this case I had just lost quite a bit in the divorce and was distraught. Little Tate just wanted my attention. When he started nagging me I turned on him and launched a tirade his way. The look on his face as a tear arose from his soul was heart wrenching. Having never seen me so upset he was devastated. The barb launched his way rebounded off his innocence to strike me dead center in my own heart. I had broken both our hearts. If ever an experience wrung the very water from my soul, this was it!

Reviews

[AprilRN1210]

This is such a tender, yet profound piece... I FEEL each word.. I feel each tear.. I feel the anguish.. oh my goodness.. I literally have chills right now.. I feel the depth at which you love this precious blessing.. It is pure, it is unconditional, and it is real.. This is my absolute favorite piece I have had the pleasure of reading on this site... You are truly talented, my friend... AMAZING!!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Now see many would say this was the hardest thing to write and admit But i beg to differ While I cannot read it without shedding a tear And cannot read it aloud writing it was easy it simply poured on the page

[AprilRN1210]

well, it poured brilliantly.. Thank you for sharing this with me.. I absolutely love it.. LOVE it.. not only do you have a wonderful talent, it seems you have a beautiful soul.. :)

[Tate Morgan]

I love my children But Tate holds a special place in my heart he and he alone went through my divorce with me and he alone saved my soul

[AprilRN1210]

I can feel that love shine through every tear soaked word sir and it touched me deeply.. I know you speak the truth.. You are blessed to have one another.. and I am blessed to have been able to read this breathtaking expression of that love..

[quinfinn]

nice rewrite

[quinfinn]

sometimes life's lessons are very painful and this piece exemplifies in beautifully constructed fashion just how deep those lessons reach. great piece !

[Lourisa]

Beyond words, Tate. Honest and so touching.

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

This is SO touching to a Mother as well...one knows when one has gone too far not even a raised hand but a raised voice is what made me realize exactly what you describe here as in the past I had never done such a thing...this is so moving - a favorite and a delightlfully painful but REAL reality that we must all remember...
Love and Light,
Siddartha

[Patches I'm not so new..]

I enjoyed this, written from the heart it was how's that old song go? "We always hurt the one the we love? thios poem aptly describes that soul wrencing feeling
well done! new friend.

[WynterPhoenix]

Beautiful poem, Tate!

[Alicia Hirshey]

This almost made me cry. I love it.

[Cassandra D.]

I thought this was very beautiful.
I really can't say anything else, but that. Thanks for sharing with us.

[An Ordinary Woman]

your a wonderful, loving daddy. This is lovely and it's a privilege to read it and get to peek a your wonderful relationship with your boy via your poetry. Ty!

Is that a pic of your son?

[Coyote Poetry]

A powerful poem. Our children feel our pain and mourn with us. Life can treat us unfair. Somehow we must stay strong for the family. Thank you for the poem with a lesson. A outstanding poem. Thank you.
Coyote