My Father's Eyes

You know that I love you. It's nothing you've done. He said as we stood in the aisle of some store, I am the only one, I have to take care of. It has to be me That I'm thinking of and I'm looking out for, That's why I have to be free. As I tried to smile I said, I understand and it's all right. I just couldn't look into my father's eyes. I might be dying, he said on the phone. Over thousands of miles and too many years Twenty had come and gone. That's why I called you. He said, I know. Though we haven't spoken I lived with this fear That you would forget or perhaps just let go. So I'm glad I called, he said I understand and it's all right Relieved I couldn't look into my father's eyes. Then I held my face In the mirror the rest of the night Finally I looked into My father's eyes