Nathaniel
Please forgive Pappa
that pappa
wasn't there
when you woke
(Julia told me you went all through the house and yard calling for me)
I knew
Nathaniel
when I laid you down
for that nap
that it would be the
last time
ole Pappa would hold
you
that you would move out
to Biloxi
and if I ever saw you again
the memory of
Pappa in your
little two year old mind
would be all but gone
that with each week apart
from you
You would tire of calling
for Pappa
and soon not call at all.
I cannot tell how how it hurt
to lay you down on that pallet
It will always hurt
I will never get over
the fact your mother and father
caused this separation
This is beautiful and heartbreaking. Beautiful because it is honest. Heartbreaking because it is true. Our three grandchldren moved away with their parents, our daughter and her husband, after living in our home for fourteen years. It was the only home they knew. We miss them all, even though they left under good circumstances and we will see them again and again. But the baby, a year and a half old, is confused. When we go to visit he remembers, his face lights up, he says "pop-pop", reaches for and clings to my husband, wants the old routine back. Walking through the yard in Pop's arms, being shown and told all manner of things. Now when he wakes there's no Pop to hold him and talk to him while his mother makes the coffee. To take him outside, away from the boredom and chaos of inside. He has flashbacks. When he opens his eyes, where will he be? What will he see?
ReplyDeleteStill, after two years, no word, complete silence. They are now out of basic training in Air Force and son Landon is in Misawa Japan as far as we know. Nathaniel is four. We still pine.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you.
ReplyDelete