To Conner, With Love

I know you don’t want to hear it But one day you WILL look up and think, “Dammit Mom” And then notice the rose-gold Of a sunset Just like I’m Always taken by surprise At how your eyes Can change from green to dusty gold then blue Depending on the hue Of your plain olive or blue H & M T-shirt I know you don’t want to hear it But you will take that hike one day With one or two or three Progeny in tow and go “Wow, inhale that smell” Of wet outdoors and nature and life Just like I inhale the boyness of you Before you become a man The spicy alcohol of cologne hiding The musk of undone laundry maybe The sweat, excretion of locker room, Football, or track exertion I know you don’t want to hear About the birds and the bees, Sticking your head out the truck window, “Mom, please!” But one day she’ll come for your heart Just like you came for mine that morning you were born