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Ode To My Son

Son,
these words of my heart 
will neither come out of pity
nor will go down the wind
nor, again, will build any city.
But lend me your ears, baby,
and listen to what an old man
can say despite the rods of men.


Live up to your own ambitions.
Keep your heart alive
and your mind working 
with honor and passion.
Take this over from my heart
that has suffered for so long.


Son, 
There is always a good thing 
to think of and to do 
instead of fruitless tarrying. 
Let not the cold world 
affect you and do its worst.
there is always something
good to be done against it. 


Son, 
be careful of those people 
who call themselves your friends, 
your enemies are known.
They both have not become 
what they have become
only because the mind, without
the heart, sees differences
and builds on them obstacles
to divide rather than unite.
They used, it is gone now, to be
your friends and the circle
the circle is open and far from full.

Son,
When the light and the sun rays 
are leaving, remember to perceive
the natural attitude and substance
of daffodils and innocent flowers.
Hide your tears, baby, from men
and let them fall alone to freshen
the sight of your eyes and vision.
Open your inward eyes of Earth and Eden.


Son,
Be always on the move 
and fear not the elements 
of submission and contrition. 
The light is coming in
and love is all around you.
Fear them no more.


Bring yourself to accept
your destiny and look at
the horizons of your heart
to improve your tools 
and feel the power of patience
and reap the harvest of resistance. 
So much depends on them, 
so much depends on you. 


Have time to work, son,
and have time to play. 
Seek to be simple
and look up at
the sunny sphere
without a pair of glasses 
Your eyes are for Earth and Eden 
Keep them pure and undefeated.


But see !!
When the rain comes
as it will in autumn and spring,
summer and winter, son,
don't rush to get an umbrella
and cover your head like many
of them would do and would not.


You already have more than it
your smile can make it 
and the flowers around you
will make it and come along 
to live with you and teach you
how to be yourself and be
one sunny day, to your sons
and daughters, little son,
the father my father
has never been for me. 

Chokri Omri

" L'amour a besoin des yeux, comme la pensée a besoin de la mémoire. "

Copyright © Chokri Omri | Year Posted 2012

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