Once I Had a Small Boy

Once I had a small boy... skinned knees- a crooked grin, begging quarters to ride the pink horse. His nose pressed against candy case glass tracing stickmen in breath's steam until the mercantile man would give in with a handful of jelly beans. But candy on his grubby chin was soon replaced with fine hair turning into stubble, and chubby cheeks thinned into a young man's face, with knitted brow and greasy jeans, laboring over car engines and awkward first dates. Now those little legs have grown long from so many sunrises and sunsets... but they can't walk far, for innocence was lost somewhere, and he now peers out behind bars created by a girl consumed with jealousy and pride. But life is a strange ride, and has a way of catching up with lies. Her deceitful eyes will shed tears one day- maybe not this year, or next, but after all those sunrises and sunsets are done, there will be no more shadows to hide behind, for scores are settled at the end of time. A mother's tears can fill a pool deep enough to drown in, yet not enough to drown her sorrow. But her heartache from all the yesterdays and todays, will someday be released and spill into one glorious tomorrow.