-Audio Player-
I see you.
the child
by the kerosene heater
hair
too thick
head
too big
for the batman cape
you love
so much
I’ve been
so harsh
to you
I’ve been
so critical
of the boy
in the bathroom mirror
please
forgive me
little prince
I know
you did
your best
for when the world
was painted
in reds
purples
and blues
you danced
with shadows
and sang
to mice
in tiny
light-up
shoes
little prince
thank you.
to the young man
painting
“We shall prevail”
on the back
of his closet door
I see you
and yes
indeed we did
just that
and so much more
but when
you turned
our heart
to ice
and so crudely carved
a pumpkin’s smile
onto our youthful face
I hated you…
and now
for so many years
I’ve hidden you
a prisoner
of that house…
cockroaches
stealing bread crumbs
from your futon mattress
on the floor
walls covered in soot
that refuses sunlight’s touch
crudely
self-tailored shirts
that reek of cigarette smoke
and sadness
how pathetically
I looked upon you
how poorly
you handled
those cracks
in our bathroom mirror
I never
really forgave you
for being so weak
for being so helpless
for never
being enough
instead
I watched you
I whispered dark lies
into your mind’s eyes
and drank of all the dreams
we both knew
you did not deserve
young man
please
forgive
me
I never meant
to be
so cruel
I never meant
to forsake you
the way I did…
I’ve heard your knocks
on my bedroom window
for years
crying
to see the sun
crying
to feel loved
crying
to be seen
young man
please
forgive me
because I know
you did
the best
you could
you survived
and did so much more
than they ever said
you would
young man.
thank you.
to the Good Sir
in the nice suit jacket
I see you.
the truth
behind the poetry
written in the lines
of your smile
if only
you might
see yourself
more clearly
it was not your fault
to have be born
from the tears
hidden behind lying eyes
you’re doing your best
I’m doing my best
and I’m sorry
for all the moments
that I’ve been so cruel
you survive
thank you.
Old man
oh
the places
you’ve gone
I see you.
please
be kinder
to me
than I’ve been
to us
our timeless soul
I cannot hope
to understand
the lives you’ve seen
staring back
from the bathroom mirror
I have not met
the love
of your life
I have not yet
danced
at your daughter’s wedding
and I await
all the laughter
that is still to come
old man
someday
I shall meet you
at the world’s end
and I’ll thank you…
for all our good fortune
and life lived
full
of love.
and finally
to the dark stranger
who stands
watch eternal
in the corners
of the bathroom mirror
I see you.
whose shadows
can no longer obscure
your truth is my truth
your face is my face
my closest friend
my guiding soul
you’ve been by my side
my whole life
whispering “Get up”
whispering “Keep moving!”
whispering “God dammit, you will NOT die today”
forgive me
my injured love
we search for it again
in the eyes
of the boy in the bathroom mirror
timeless friend
thank you.
oh, my little prince
I’ve got you
I’ve had you
and I’ll never let you go.
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Thank you! I really appreciate that : D
Good gracious, you are talented! Absolutely spellbound am I listening to your recitations, and your voice alone, and your actual poetry, of course. Wow. Get known, John Cross! #instantfan