Features

The one thing  

That always amazed me  

Even from the  

Earliest moment  

Of your life  

Was the utter trust  

You had in me  

And I was struck  

At the time  

By the amount  

Of doubt  

I had in myself.  

Even though  

Your mother and I  

Had half a year  

To practice breathing  

I doubted that  

I could remember  

Properly when to  

Encourage the right breath  

And when the doctor  

Said I could assist  

And I finally held  

You  

Gray and small  

I thought to that  

Distant day  

When you would 

Hold your own son  

In the same way  

And I thought of  

The resolve you would  

Have  

Just as I had  

To love  

Like no other  

Father has loved.  

So the years pass  

And I doubt  

You felt the  

Prayer of love  

Over that distance  

And separation  

You grew in.  

A correspondence  

Is a poor substitute  

For a kiss  

Yet each word  

Was a universe  

Of touch  

I doubt it  

Was enough.  

I cannot now  

Apologize  

For all that you  

Went through  

I wish it were  

Otherwise.  

But mere words  

And sentiment  

Are hollow.  

You are now  

A father  

Kiss your son  

While you can  

Circumstance  

Has a way  

Of intruding  

Upon the best  

Of plans  

And apologies  

Become terrible  

Temptations.  

—Justice Putnamü