MY SON

I have a son, a little son, a boy completely fine.

Whenever I see him, it seems to me, all the world is mine.

But seldom, seldom do I see my child awake and bright.

I only see him when he sleeps. I only see him at night.

It’s early when I leave for work.

when I return it’s late.

Unknown to me is my own flesh.

Unknown is my child’s face

When I come home so wearily,

in the darkness after the day.

My pale wife exclaims to me,

“You should have seen our child play!”

I stand beside his little bed.

I look and try to hear.

In his dreams he moves his lips.

“Why isn’t daddy here?”