The day you arrived on this earth
With eyes like the ocean
Being someone’s everything
What an expectation
Staying up all night
Worrying wondering
Parents, their love
A protective poison

Before was the love
So young so raw
Tickles and tricks
Blocks and shapes
Laughs and naps
Adoration for the boy
And from the boy
Admiration

The gentile touch of the father
Enough to lull you to sleep
The other half the missing piece
Your heart so full
Getting and giving
Looking up at the man
Man who you want to be
The hero
The knight
The king

Walk in dads shoes
Eat your food to be strong
Strong like dad
When you were sad
He was there to comfort you
Hold you
Every broken heart
I love you
I love you

But time
Time is a greedy witch
She always gets what she wants
Moments, memories, lost
Steps, words, smiles
Dances, advice, hearts
Where did they go
Those years those months
days, minutes, seconds
They’re gone
Childhood the dream
Its to wake up

Please...
Just 5...more...minutes

So now on this threshold
Ready to jump
Can’t fit in dad’s shoes
You look back longing
Longing for the simpleness of semblance of youth
Longing for those arms
that are now too far to hold
Drifting away like fog
Apart like the tide from the shore
Don’t want to fly away
Not ready
Not yet

The wonder of the child is gone
The hope in the eyes is gone
The “I love you’s” now gone
Stuck on this perpetual escalator
Constantly moving forward
But trying so hard reaching back
Arms straining stretching seizing
No, please

But look foreword now
Smile my boy it’s sunrise
A new day is dawning
Let the memories live
They live in you
In your reflection
it’s okay
Take that step
Do not fear
Raise your chin to your future
Soon it will be your turn
And one will wear your shoes
And eat their food
To be strong like you

As time progresses
Every hour spent together
Lives within your heart
Though love changes it’s never gone
Merely metamorphoses into more
What a beautiful bond between
Father and son
The father looks at the man
Eyes welling with joy
He lets the man go
So proud of his boy
Takes a step back
Let the bird fly

Broken bones heal if you set them right
Life’s a roller coaster
Keep your arms inside
But you are your father’s child
And he had you for a while
But now you are grown
You’ll be making it on your own

Tears will dry if you give them time
He’s always there standing by your side
Son do not fear the future
Cause you are your father’s child
And he had you for a while
But now you are grown
Just know you’ll never do this alone