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..

[Leslie Philibert]

A deeply felt poem based on a traumatic experience. I`m sure you are a good father, anybody who formulates their feelings in this way is able to understand a child.

[Lori P.]

Again I feel the tears start to come.I hope ur children know the true man u are. They are very blessed children as you are to b very blessed to b their father!!

[Crow]

That is a beautifully sad piece.

[Aramey]

This is a very common thing for a parent to experience, but you captured it better than I have seen anyone do thus far. There's a lot of emotion in this piece, and when writing that's exactly what is intended to happen. This is an excellent piece, I look forward to reading more of your work. Congratulations on a job well done.

[Emma Eden Ramos]

Very touching. I like how it moves slowly through time, revealing a story.

[Alewis]

this was very sad and teaches us to cherish the things we have in life and never take them for granted. this poem was moving and had my eyes watering this was a seriously great write and keep up the good work

[Shy Girl]

I am speechless. I am definately going to remember this lesson of yours and draw from it within my own life. My girls try my soul alot lately, since becoming teenagers. They and myself were very close when they were younger and I maybe took that time for granted and long for those days again. Having been reminded they aren't those girls in pig tails any longer was a blow to me. I can't imagine the strength it took for your son to see you that way and yet still come to you when he needed you. Very emotional poem. Children are our greatest treasures. Thank you.

[Kat Collins]

This brought tears to my own eyes...one of my favorites from you. So eloquently rendered the pain of divorce and subsequent hardship this has on the child. In our haste and own personal anger we tend to forget the innocent pure love a child has for us and all they ever want is our undivided attention to shower that love on us. We lash out and then are struck mute when we realize the pain we've caused for both of us. So beautifully written. Thank you....