Father and Son - Jose Enciso

[Larry Robinson]

Father and Son

I needed you to be a god.
to rescue me
  from yourself.
I needed you to be larger
  than a glass of scotch.
to leap out from the depression.
to look me in the eye
  and see me.

Instead you were not a god.
You loved me in a human way.
Stumbled and slurred your words of apology.
And my adolescence was cast adrift.

We grew apart.
  You in deeper withdrawal.
  Me in increasing bitterness.
‘Till all we had was
“How’s the weather?” and the next cute grandchild story.

Over time, my life arced back towards you
  just as you body wore out.
Finally, it was your return to childhood
  that brought me to adulthood.

You left too soon
  or I arrived too late.

Sometimes the final goodbye
Contains every hello that did not happen.

	 - Jose Enciso