November 15, 2012
A Father's Lament
I watched him grow, I held his hand
Till he learnt to tread softly on land.
I told him tales of fairies
And watched him delight gleefully.
With his birth, my better half was gone-
But to me, the light of my life still shone.
I sat with him, I wiped his tears
And was his only confidant for years.
In his youth he had many friends
And I saw he would make no amends.
He grew into a fine lad, young and grand
With determination that knew no contraband.
He basked in riches and fame,
I grew old all the same.
Then came a time when he fell in love,
Asked for blessings, both mine and God’s above.
I watched him patiently; I watched him keenly.
Little realising that my life was again so lonely.
I saw him smile with all his heart;
And indeed well he played his part,
As husband and father to a little one-
Yes, with years he was blessed with a son.
All this time I was withering away
Like a dry leaf in continuous sway.
Now they looked at me scornfully
And I knew they felt I was a waste of time and money.
Was there somewhere I’d gone wrong?
Hadn’t I thought I’d live happy and long?
For the first time I was glad my wife was a world apart
Or this sorrow would’ve pierced her heart.
I watched his son grow with changing trends.
Now he too had begun having his own friends.
Before I knew, he was changing with days
Or was he too preparing to follow his father’s ways?
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