FATHER
The master turned to
his
servant and said
Will you miss my soul when I am dead?
The servant risked a
swift
reply
What makes you think that you will die?
It will pass, the
Master
spoke
Life is but a passing joke
And you, my slave,
will
also fade
like brittle leaves in autumn's shade
Our time on earth is
merely
seconds
and even now the darkness beckons
The servant, quiet,
turned
away
afraid that there was more to say
He cleared his throat
as
if to speak
then turned his head, subdued and meek
You fail to answer,
little
one
I've held your hand since you were young
I've taught you
everything
I know
I've helped you live, I've watched you grow
For once, please tell
me
what you think
Quickly now, I'm at the brink
The servant caught his
master's
eye
and thought for once that he would try
To spill the rage he
felt
inside
and bear the scars upon his hide
I am your servant,
nothing
less
for years I've lived at this address
My chore in life has
been
your living
never taking, always giving
I've borne your weight
upon
my brow
and still I feel it, even now
Not once have I beheld
the
chance
to call for aid, to sing and dance
I've worn your rags
while
you've stayed clean
I've borne your lash when you were mean
I’ve seen you at your
best
and worst
often beaten, slapped and cursed
So now you ask me
where
I stand
as if I'm free from your demand
For all your words are
merely
lies
and under you, I cannot die
The master frowned as
if
displeased
the servant falling to his knees
Groveling, he groaned
and
shivered
thinking pain would be delivered
But the master only
looked
away
with trembling lips of ashen gray
And the servant saw
two
tiny tears
roll down the face he'd known for years
I've failed you now,
the
master cried
I see the fate your words implied
I'm nothing but a
cursed
wretch
condemned to stalk the fiery depths
I meant to teach you
more
than this
the songs of love, the touching kiss
Too many times I've
curled
my lip
and broken you with rod and whip
You must forgive me
while
there's time
I must repent this heinous crime
The servant startled,
did
not speak
for years he'd laid both soft and weak
heeding to his
master's
whim
never once forsaking him
and now he knew, he
too
had failed
a hapless child to no avail
he stammered words
through
choking sobs
I thought you all.
I thought you God.
I gave you life beyond
your means
You were my thoughts, you were my dreams
I kept you in some
sacred
place
kissed your feet, adored your face
But now I see you're
just
a man
whose life I led, yet somehow ran
Forgive me too, for I
have
sinned
Looking up, the master grinned
At last, my son, you
are
complete
No longer may you wash my feet
Rise at once and take
command.
Live your life by your own hand
I must retire," the
master
said
Good night, my child. It's time for bed
For in your eyes, at
last,
I'm dead
CWF
Sales &
Marketing
Attleboro,
Massachusetts
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2008 All Rights Reserved.