Christopher Poem by Tom Courtney

Christopher - my boy in passing
fast at stick-ball, playing, sassing
climbing fences, your array
of make-believe, of push and play

Of exploration, self and smile
of precious inches, joyous mile
Oh Christopher, my point of light
my dancing heart, my boy so slight

I see myself replayed and smile
knowing boyhood lasts a while
And I have moments: you have time
You dance on life; I play with rhyme

I turn the record once again
I set the needle - boy, aged ten
and then imagine I can play
my soul's own tune, my time of day

That I can capture your chiming bells
your softening echoes, like great sea shells
And just to see your shadow run
your gentle shape, your joy and fun

Oh Christopher! You sing my song
with notes so brief - a day so long
For can you stop the coming night?
Can you stay the passing flight?

So blithely unaware you are
of father watching from afar
of father knowing he can't hold
He stands to shape; he thinks to mold

So father fastens, fastens eye
He cannot think that youth will die
He memorizes line and form
His boy is wind - all rain and storm

He rides above the rules of man
if only in his father's plan
You're God's way of telling me
that what I love I must leave free

But stay, oh stop - just long enough
The time is dear; the way is tough
I cannot hold you, I am saying
Just live and live is for the praying

And miracle you are to me
is what, of course you cannot see
Strange resonance a father is
He vacillates with what is his

He tells himself: though I am father
I will not meddle; I will not bother
that fragile edge of innocence
til time is spent - all scrip and pence

Til moon has touched your wondrous eye
til bullfrog leaps for firefly
til tides have turned, and you've been you
my Christopher my one and true