To my son

[Jerrybaldy]

Goodbye my son
The blood may be thicker
Than the water
But blood was colder than it oughta
Be.
Goodbye my son
I may meet you
In a queue for a supermarket
Ten years from now
Just a flash behind the eyes,
That’s my dad.
There were no goodbyes
And the checkout is waiting
Cornflakes, detergent
Urgent.
Cheerio my son
Trolly with a wonky wheel
Won’t kill
You.
You look like your mother.

I see you back on the swing
Innocent, mouth wide
Knew what made you happy
For a while
Pushing you toward
the afternoon sun
Turned the saddest day
To fun.

I watch you walk away
Through the car park
Head covered by your grey hood
For good.
Goodbye my son.

[tailor STATELY]

Thanks for this offering Jerrybaldy, very touching. As a coincidence I viewed the movie short Bao last night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB_2qU4GLCw with some of the family.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor

[Hawkman]

That is real quality, there, JB. Live and be well - H

[Adolescent09]

Did your son pass Jerry?

[tonywalt]

Great work Jerry.

[Jerrybaldy]

Hi all thanks for commenting. No didn’t pass just decided not to be in touch anymore. Thanks again

[Shadowlight]

Thank you for sharing this personal and touching piece Jerry. Love and loss is so hard, it hurts like hell. The memory on the playset and knowing what made your son happy just brought me to tears. I recently lost someone and the thing that kills me is knowing I will likely never hear his booming laugh again in response to one of my stupid jokes, gosh it just hurts. Seeing me only brings them pain and urgency to get away. Your poem really struck a chord. Im sorry Jerry, for it to be your child, it's got to be incredibly hard. Love to you, I hope for you some peace.