Snapshots

 

A man standing on the shoreline

cattails rustling in the breeze

Skipping stones across the water
lost in a haze of memories

The time he caught his shadow
while the puppy chased its tail

Big brother laughing loudly
Mother braiding sister's hair

The time he saw Father crying
wiping tears upon his sleeve

The startled look at his watching
Dad pretending it was just a sneeze

The girl with the freckles
that moved in down the street

Playing spin the bottle
that first kiss; Oh so sweet

The bully on the playground
picking on the smallest kids

Running away quite startled
when he stepped in to defend

Standing at the podium
diploma held up high

The happiness in Mother's face
the pride in Father's eyes

The woman who stole his heart
the first time she caught his eye

The taste of that fateful kiss
when she said she'd be his bride

The fear of being a father
when she said that it was time
The way she took his hand in hers
and said everything would be just fine

Startled back to consciousness
by a tugging on his sleeve

He sees his son standing there
Saying Dad it's time to leave. 

04/12/2015