My Father's Eyes

The world sits still in these brief moments

As the sun rises up above the horizon

Slowly, 

gently

Waking the sleeping world.

He sits quietly,

watching life be restored

to all the hiding creatures.

In these moments

he sees a life he once knew

so well

He sees his own childish wonders

that, not so long ago,

began to fade out

as the years bore down on him.

Alone in his travels,

he often thinks of the one he has lost

holding a picture between his thumbs

whispering quiet prayers to a God 

he's not sure he can trust anymore

asking for a sign

asking to speak to him again

for a second chance  

He thinks of how the years flown by

How grown his once young children now are

The grand house, that once housed them all,

is near empty.  

Memories, 

Like ghosts,

Play on repeat 

throughout his house,

throughout his mind.

The old photos,

big smiles,

and still life laughs

He closes his eyes

takes a big breath,

and releases an even bigger sigh

The love in his heart 

aches.

But as morning turns to evening,

and he comes home to his beautiful wife,

and the youngest of his children,

He is reminded of how blessed he is to be here.

The pictures of his older children 

living the life he helped to prepare them for

The love he feels in his heart

when saying goodbye on the phone

not knowing when they will see each other 

next.

But knowing that he is loved.

Knowing that his effort was not in vain

The world sits still in these brief moments

As the sun rises up above the horizon

Slowly, 

gently

Waking the sleeping world.

He closes his eyes,

momentarily.

Takes a deep breath,

Opens his eyes,

and continues forward.