At the park
We dip and dodge
The other kids,
Climb ladders
And cross the bridge
That you say wobbles
But I am old and need to rest
So against the fence
I lean and watch
You disappear beneath the lip
Of a tired tunnel
And though I feel
Unfamiliar as a father
I can pick your voice
Out of a hundred others
As you play I shyly smile
At the mothers, the fathers
Aware of those with rings
On their fingers, and those
Who prepared packed lunches
Yeah, I am conscious
Of all my shortcomings
Of the sweat against my chest
One of those side-effects
Of the medicine I take
Still I’m grateful for this
For the moment
I look away and up
And see colors falling
From a sycamore tree
Leaves unevenly loosed
In butterfly patterns.
These pieces of everything
These colors against the sky
They’re everywhere
And everything
As my son
Puts his hand
In mine
Truly beautiful work, Jordan. Tipping my hat.
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This is my world now. I live this. I understand this.
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single parents must deal with a special kind of self-consciousness, right?
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It’s not a easy world, at times, but it’s just as rewarding. Whatever kind of parent we are, whatever kind of parents people think we are, just be present. Best to you, Sommer.
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