Dicky Cantrell (5-11-51 / Navy Base Charleston SC)

I saw a lovely encounter



A small boy stands with his Father
Like my son once did

His face red from crying
Like mine would once do

His tender heart is tender
Like my son’s once was

A tenderness that opens wounds to my own regret of not winning his heart

Things that creep, wanting to attach to me, are always near

Even in all this my son will say to me:
“I love you more than anyone of earth, you know this”

Telling him his son is handsome, well behaved – he invited me to help him stay that way

I have sorrow more permanent that tattoos
that my son’s father was not this way