My Boy

By M. Jay Mansfield

I arrive home in the dark…
I hear a whining child in the back seat…
All I can think is, to his mother...
Get him something to eat…

He like his daddy unwinds from the day…
I seem to die as he gains in strength…
Faster and faster he churns under way…
Did I really bargain for this …

I hear the first giggle...
A ray of blue light…
I smile a bit…
I forget a bit of the dark of night…

I crawl from my couch to his earnest call…
Then the first “DADDY!”…
Bright red rays seem to fall…
Following after to see what’s a foot…

C’mon he says and scampers away…
One weak step then another…
I follow slowly but off I go to play…
Building up steam I catch up to the fiend...

The first real smile…
Blossoms of yellow and teal…
I giggle myself…
A quick hug I steal…

He squirms away quickly …
Laughing and squeals…
He’s bound towards the ‘puter…
The flashing picture of Nemo is all too real…

He climbs into my chair and calls me to play…
“Want Nemo daddy”...
His shining eyes blow away the rest of the gray…
Violet and warm greens wash over my soul…

As soon as I learn the game…
“Want drums daddy help please“…
Not a minute of any night ever the same...
I dance in his rainbow it‘s all that I need…

I play till I’m weak…
and he’s too tired but goes on…
Luckily momma knows when…
And slowly play time is done…

Darkness closes in…
I put my sunshine to bed…
Lights go off he sparkles still…
I smile big and tear up as I kiss his sweet head…

My terror…
My buddy…
My sweet heart and more…
My hero…
My sunshine…
Rainbow…
My Boy…

© 1-5-03 MJMansfield