Strength

My son, 

we ride this life through on icy comet tails, 

smash boundaries with meteors 

and dance in new born galaxies 

on a runway of stars.

I will ride with you, surf each wave 

as you push against me 

and watch my skin ripple as you move.

You don't know how cruel this world can be.

You are safe. Protected. Sheltered by 

the body that surrounds you. 

I cry for you, my Joshua, because 

I know I can't stop you from getting hurt. 

I just hope that I can teach you how to 

be strong. That strength doesn't come 

from never crying or showing emotion. 

It doesn't come from being 'manly'. 

It doesn't come from heart break. 

Strength comes from the heart. 

It comes from being man enough to cry 

and feminine enough to feel. 

It is forged in the battles that leave 

wounds on your soul and scars 

either seen or unseen. 

Strength is looking past the exterior, 

past the scars and the tears and the pain. 

I hope your father and I teach you how to love.

Not halfheartedly but completely. 

So that every time you see pain in someone's 

eyes, you hurt for them. 

I hope you are strong enough to hurt with them. 

because no one deserves to suffer alone. 

I pray that you will take that girl 

who thinks she's worthless, 

and show her how to find her 

reflection in the skies.

Make a wish, my son, swing on the moon 

with the one of your dreams. 

And if you find your dream ends before 

you thought that it would, 

I will still be here. 

You can still cry in your mother's arms 

until your tears have started to heal 

your fractures. 

And before you ride the next wave, 

I will dance with you on a runway of stars.

I will love you for always, my darling, 

my son.