Father of the Man

Daunted by the shadows in my mind,
uncertain where the hazy pathways led
and frightened by the darkness up ahead,
I saw my Youth approaching from behind
and paused and waited, thinking what to say.
We'd broken contact many years ago -
we hadn't much in common. Even so
his certainty might help me find the way.

He came to meet me coldly with a frown,
and I fell silent, angered, filled with such
resentment that this parent asked so much
but sadness too because I’d let him down.

So burdened by the weight of wasted days
we drew apart and went our different ways.