Father Poetry: AIM

AIM
I spoke with my son today
About attitude
And just what that means
He stared up at me
With eyes so bright
Giving me a smile
You see if I don’t do it
Society will raise my child
I spoke with my son today
About intelligence
And just what that means
He stood there telling me
All that a boy of eight
Might know
I shuddered as he walked away
It’d be a long time before I let him go
As he walked away I too
Became consumed with a smile
You see if I don’t do it
Society will raise my child
I spoke with my son today
About memories
I asked him to recall

He mentioned how
I’d always been there when he was Very
small
To tie his shoe
Teach him manners
And respect
Discipline on command
Explain to him the geometry
Of life and difficulties
Of being a man
Of trips to the park
Walks in the dark
Long rides in the car
Of the very first day
Basketball he did play

And though they lost
I praised him all the while
Of parents-teachers nights
Birthdays and bad cut hair
The time when I was in the hospital
And he sat in my chair

Of arguments with his brother
And how they got resolved
Of how being the oldest sibling
Always keeps him involved
Of love and concern
And my just being there
Explaining to him in life
The things that weren’t fair
After hearing all this
We both had to smile
A focused young brother
Society would have to wait a little while

They’ll never get the chance
To raise my black child.