In the passage of time, a tale unfolds,
Of a father and son, their story told,
Three meetings etched in memories deep,
One moment, forever, the heart will keep.
In the golden days of third-grade glee,
A zoo field trip, hearts full and free,
The bus halts, and McDonald’s they find,
In lines they stand, young spirits aligned.
Amidst the chatter and laughter’s embrace,
A familiar face, a glimpse of grace,
The son, uncertain, takes a glance,
Could this be his father’s chance?
With food in hand, he sat beside his friend,
Yet thoughts of kinship couldn’t mend,
His focus wandered, lost in a daze,
His best friend noticed, the son’s gaze ablaze.
The revelation shared, a daring quest,
To approach the counter, put doubts to rest,
“Is he Rodney?” the son would inquire,
The lady’s response, a voice on fire.
“Rodney, your son!” her words did shout,
And time stood still, no room for doubt,
Father and son, a reunion divine,
Embraced in love, their souls align.
Conversations flowed, like rivers wide,
About life’s journey and dreams untied,
An ice cream feast, a bag of delight,
Hours turned to seconds in love’s flight.
But time’s a fleeting, fickle friend,
Their paths diverge, the moments end,
Years would pass, the son now grown,
A bond that weakened, partly unknown.
An 18th birthday, a flicker of hope,
Yet shadows lingered, they couldn’t elope,
Marriage brought changes, a shift in the tide,
The son chose to step back, his emotions to hide.
In the end, the father’s passing came,
A sudden farewell, hearts left in shame,
Unspoken words, regrets to bear,
An opportunity lost, beyond repair.
Yet the son holds fast to memories dear,
To the laughter shared and the love sincere,
He knows in his heart, though time may sever,
Their bond transcends, forever and ever.
So, to his father, an ancestor now,
He speaks with love, he makes this vow,
“I’ll see you later,” he softly conveys,
Rest, Mighty Jo Nathan. Rest.
