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..

[Lily Mae]

This had chills going up and down my arms. I think what raw honesty you written effects every parent that has traveled down that road to growth. This has allowed me to be reminded of that moment and the lessons that resulted. How sweet that this came up after him coming into my room late last night asking to go to his first prom..:) xxx Thank you for the reminder of these yes moments...xx

[Baz]

Very insightful piece, Tate. And one to which any parent can relate. We can often have short fuses when dealing with our kids, and then we look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. Were they too loud? Too messy? Too cheeky? As you allude to, are these really things to get upset about? Clearly not. It is a lesson hard learned, and even though we recognise that, we need to be ever vigilant against acting in haste.

[TamiViolet]

This one brought a tear to my eye, Tate. You teach your son 'mercy' and that's so important, and the most important is love, yes? I mean, although we all make mistakes, as long as our children feel loved, they'll make it through difficult times... Wow, that last stanza hits quite hard... Intense and emotional work, thank you for sharing it with me.

[Sujash I. Purna]

very beautiful work! I loved the wisdom that has been expressed here in this poem.

[Tommy]

A child’s heart is so tender in its relationship to feel, but it is resilient in nature. This is a mournful cry from the side of loss that only time can heal.

Great Write Tate!
RLG,
Tommy

[ice]

"Oh quickly disappearing photograph
in my more slowly disappearing hand."

Rilke held a photograph of his father in his hand, you a picture of your son..

Wordsworth explained that there is no difference in a father and son.

"The Child is father of the Man"

What you can hope is that your son will learn to handle situations of strife as well as you, and learn to forgive himself when he wounds the ones that he loves. I think he will learn the hard way, just as you have...but he might read this poem when he is older and realize that your intentions were always good, always made in the spirit of love.

This poem is very important for men to read, even if they are not fathers.

[Rossen]

This struck a cord deep within my thoughts, and a not to distant memory
Wonderfully written by any standards,


Rossen~

[Im His Daughter]

Wow great poem Tate very sad indeed. But I also see the love you have to protect him from the pain of Divorce. Good job!

[Nilesh Ratnam]

it's really a "HEART TOUCHING" one.
I think it has come from your bottom sir.
I really have no words to speak. A real feeling...

[Katannaism]

This is truly a saddening poem-But the emotions projected here are very raw, personal and just full of it. Exceptional write! ;)