After the Fall

Quite frankly, I don't remember at all You see I was quite young when I took my first fall. Don't know which parent was there to catch me Or how hard the decision was to stand back and let me.  Did I topple forward or backward, or who made the call.  And who scooped me up crying After the fall. I can't remember the joy of first letting go And taking that step without holding on.  Groping my way forward Leaning against the wall I got back up  After the fall. As the Earth spun the years flew by so fast At 17 I finally knew everything at last!! Unexpectedly, I fell once again, Head over heels this time  And out on a limb. I was so sure of that bet I gambled it all Heart bruised abused and then broken After that fall. And then I broke my own promise  To not love again. Hungry for life I gambled to win. Life is a theatre of first steps first  A one act play with no time to rehearse. Co starring in roles Cast without planning. "Never more" echoes  The raven still chanting. Undaunted unwilling To let darkness win all Trusting Father to be there After the fall. Then the day came When I had a son To let him learn the word hot And hope he'd not run, Would he still love me Or trust me at all When I pulled my hand back And allowed him to fall? And knowing I'd be there again To help him to stand And knowing he might never walk If I didn't let go of his hand And hoping he didn't revert back to a crawl When I let go of his hand And allowed him to fall. As the earth kept on turning My heart kept yearning My son now a man Living and learning. He hasn't held my hand now in a very long time The cats in the cradle slowly plays in the back of my mind. I looked in the mirror today And noticed my dad. And remembered a talk that we'd never had. Remembering how he seemed towering and tall  And was there every time  After each fall. I lose my balance these days now and again My steps aren't as sure As they once might have been.  In the winter of life now I feel so small And wonder who'll catch me If I take a fall.  I suppose I'll just have to trust Father With both great things and small  To pick me up on the other side When I take my last fall.