Father’s Day Musings

Muddleheads

In legend there is a little spirit
called the Mouse Woman
and when your child is in trouble
she will always come to the rescue

begin there, today and tomorrow
setting mouse traps 
as soft as your arms can hold
and bait them with years to come

You know that time is patient
You know that it is stalking 
the body of your child 
like a bad day dream 
waiting for you to fall asleep
the heartaches and traumas 
you can mend and put away
it’s squeezing love out of dark clouds 
but you know that
handing him over and over again
while you wait the distance
in the sterile corridors of your heart
while you watch for the slightest sign
that your child will always be
 running home to your arms

the invisible nibbles away
at the little things that make us human

It is said, the Mouse Woman
has little patience with muddleheads,
but when your children are in trouble
the tiny spirit will come to their rescue

begin there
setting mouse traps
as soft as your arms can hold
and bait them with  tears of joy