MY SON’S PYRE

Alone I walked, the final walk

My son crushed

Between my chest & arms

For a man they say

The heaviest weight

Is that of his child

They don’t know the half of it

I had thought

I would be different

Because I had you

But the day passed

Then the night

You never came

The fire died

And my hopes with it

Now I know

That path is mine

And mine — alone

A thousand miles

A thousand times

Till one day I too go that way

But no loving arms

No bursting chest

Not even a wet eye

A gate will open

The fire will burn

Like it has in my heart

White hot

I’ll be kicked inside

Heaven or hell,

Only time will tell

But my son will be there