A SON

Son, you and me are one
But how can we say that we know it this way?
A Father's love for his son,
And you're love for me, I see
And I hear you and I know what you mean
For I have learned in my own way
How it feels to be a son
Just as I have learned how to still be a son
And yet look how to lead, my son

For one does not stop being a son, not ever, in no way
Even though I now plough in the field and sew the seed

I cannot protect you from the things you will see
Nor would I want to, for I remember well when I was you,
as I still am, my son

Often I ask myself, well what can I do?
When to hold you, when to scold you?
Without tying myself up in the wrong or the right

None of these things can I say that I know
And perhaps that's what's changed in me,
my son, over the years
For sure I am not better than you
I cannot even say that I am older or wiser
For how would I know whom you are, nor whence you came?
So what is there to know?
Other than that you are me, my son
And will always be, for we are one

So I guess what I am saying
is that I've learned to stop trying so hard just to know
But what I do know
Is that you live in my heart and in my bones

I wish I could tell you that I will always be here for you
But how foolish to say such a thing?
But then I can try till I die
To be here for me and you
And to show you how through

To smile when I'm down
To laugh when I'm crying
To show when I'm aching
To dance when I'm shaking

To live a full life with no bitterness nor regrets
To hold you tight in my arms
And let you go at the same time

As you make your own way
And we journey together for just a while
A father and son
Whomever we may be
My son
A son

A Bard of the Setting Sun