Bill

~

I used to look at him, 

fear for him, as

my new world flashed by his

astonished eyes, 

like black and white

fast-forward cine film,

leaving me wondering 

how could he possibly navigate 

the vivid colours of change

as man’s relentless advancements

spilled from the machine like

projectile techno-vomit,

he wore a curious limpid expression

a resigned realisation that quietly

whispered, ‘I’ve had my day,

it’s down to you now son’,

and in that one fragment 

of a second

that unspoken blink

I became him, the parent

and he became me, a child

unable to keep his balance

his self-assured equilibrium

on the oscillating, accelerating 

carousel called life,

cast-off, all uses spent,

responsibilities reversed,

these days I think carefully

before making eye-contact

with either of my sons, 

for fear, they too, will see 

that same look of my father 

reflected there in my eyes

*

© Graham R Sherwood 10/23