The Man and His Boy

There was an old man broken and torn.

The look of his hand wrinkled and worn.

He had such a look, he must have a tale.

So I petitioned to see, what all had befell.

Now I warn you, I've never heard a person so sad.

Never, not once, since I’ve been but a lad.

But I think its worth telling, this old poor man’s fate.

I think its worth telling, that we may escape.

It starts off quite happy, with a boy and his dad.

They loved being together, every moment they had.

They’d laugh and they laugh, both filled with love.

They both fit together, like a hand in a glove.

Now each day was a joy, but they didn’t have much.

Just a one room apartment, with a bed and a hutch.

And one more possession, a little small horse.

With white and brown speckles, and hair kind of coarse.

They loved that horse, though it wasn't much to see.

They’d ride it together, with so, so much glee.

They’d groom it and feed it, with such tender care.

It was part of the family because it was theirs.

Dad worked so hard, he had to you see

Times, they were tough, and food wasn’t free

He worked at a forgery, stoking the stoves

Man it was hot, he’d sweat through his clothes

Each day he rose early, to go off to work

Just one minute late, his boss went berserk

He’d work and he’d slave, shoveling the coal

All these long hours, taking their toll

He couldn’t stop though, he had his boy to work for

His son’s life would be better, that was for sure

So he worked and he saved, the little he could

His son was bound for college, and things would be good.

Now, each day the boy left, he’d go off to school

And then do his homework, that was the rule.

He too must work hard, to go get good grades

Then go off to college, where he’d have it made.

See, dad had big hopes, his boy would have a better life.

Earning a living wouldn’t be such a strife.

While the boy was at school, Dad would work and would slave.

Hard manual labor, with hardly any pay.

That was okay though, cuz he had his boy.

One day he’d have it better, oh what a joy.

Each day he would work, each day he would save.

His boy’d go to college, his way would be paved.

So life went on, that was the plan.

Years went by, and the boy became a young man.

And it came time, for father and son to depart.

Although it'd be hard, it was time for college to start.

They said their goodbyes, tears rolled down the Dad’s face.

He couldn’t believe it, his son was leaving this place.

His pride and joy, bout to walk out the door.

For a good cause, to become something more.

So the boy took off, to start with his studies

And when he got there, he made a few buddies.

He studied and studied, schedule full to the brim.

He started off strong, nothing could stop him.

And every so often, he'd send the old man a card.

He missed him you see, the distance was far.

But he worked and he read, as Dad would have him do.

He had a mission, frivolity was eschewed.

Now, you see back at home,  Dad was so proud.

He’d dream of his boy, see him pleasing the crowds.

He continued to work day after day.

College wasn’t cheap, and someone had to pay.

It was just the man and his horse, left back at home

He’d go out and ride, when he felt all alone

The Dad missed his boy, but he still had his horse

He didn’t lose both, that would’ve been so much worse

As time wore on, things started to change.

His boy wrote less frequent, it really felt strange.

College must be busy, Dad told himself.

He worked even harder to send extra help.

He was worried his boy could use a little cash.

So he worked so hard he broke into a rash.

About money, he didn't want his son to worry or stress.

He was to focus on school, he would be a success.

Again time pressed on, dad heard less still.

But was ever so faithful in paying the bills.

At night he would wonder, how’s he doing, where must he be?

To think of him struggling, it made his heart flee.

He have been working, and just constantly reading

With deadlines due, time must have been fleeting

The boy had no time, Dad told himself

But to not talk at all? Could it be something else?

He must be in trouble! Something had to be wrong.

He hadn’t heard from his boy, it’d been oh so long!

More money, more money, that must be what he needs.

I’ll send it straight to him! The man’s heart did decree.

But how? More money? The man didn’t have anything more...

Oh wait, there was something, the horse was still left in store!

So he quickly went and sold him, got the money to send

And just like that, he’d lost his last friend.

With the horse gone, by himself, all alone

He’d dream of his boy, his heart it would groan

He worked each day, with hope that he’d hear

Another empty mailbox, another empty year

Lonely so lonely, his heart ached with such pain

Like another empty desert, waiting for the  rain

He missed his son, what could have gone wrong?

He knew he'd come back, there love was too strong

Time passed by, 4 years for a degree

Dad still heard nothing, but still he believed

His boy would come home, with such great stories to tell

Things would get back to normal, things would be swell

No longer checking the mailbox, he’d sit by the door

And wait for a knock, his boy would come home for sure

But the waiting continued, no sign, not at all

Weeks turned to months, and his hope started to fall

Maybe one extra year, yeah that must be it!

His boy was just focused, he never taught him to quit!

Maybe he changed his major, or got a greater degree

He couldn’t wait to find out, he couldn’t wait to see!

The fifth year rolled by, still no sign of the boy

But masters take 6 years, oh what a joy!

Number 6 went by, his boy would be a doctor!

By the time 8 went by, dad was a professional door watcher.

Once 8 went by, things started to change

A feeling of doubt, had his boy been estranged?

Something must have happened, Had his boy lost his health?

All of these thoughts, they were awful the old man felt.

Finally, realization set in - his boy wasn’t coming home.

Why didn’t he tell me? The man’s spirit did moan.

And as it set in, he started to cry

Nothing could comfort, no matter how hard he tried

He cried and he cried, with no sign of relief

The rest of his life would be tumult and grief

Why didn’t he come? Why didn’t he write?

The man was left to wonder the rest of his life.

Now the man was broken, so long he had hoped

For any kind of happiness, in the dark he did grope

He’d given his life, for the boy now you see

He'd given his life, now for nothing it did seem

Now what happened to the boy, is what makes the story even sadder

When I learned for myself, I got all the madder

But there’s a lesson to be learned, so listen and see

Hear what the boy did, and learn to be free

When the boy went off, he had hope in his eyes

He’d provide for his Dad, that was the prize

He’d work hard in school, graduate lickety split

And then be back home, back where he did fit.

He liked all his classes, but his teachers, they were stern

This might be quite hard, he now began to learn

He buckled in, with focus and drive

He knew how to work, and started to thrive

Since Dad paid the bills, he didn’t have to work

So he focused on his classes, and never did he shirk

He did have some free time, to go and make new friends

He never would’ve chose them, if he knew how this thing ends

As time pressed on, all his friends started to say

School is for losers, why should we have to pay?

All this learning, and this teaching, is all gobbledygook

Why spend all this time reading, all these dumb dumb books?

At first he didn't listen, but his friends, they were fun

They'd go and cause mischief, and invite him to come

He'd tell them he couldn't, they'd beg and they’d plead

Sometimes he relented, to party with them see

These parties weren't cheap though, there was much questionable fun

Things dad had warned of, warned his dear, dear son

Again the boy resisted, he knew what was right

But it all looked enticing, and within his soul, he did fight!

At first he just watched, not wanting to get involved

But certain girls with their prying, weakened his resolve

He finally relented, just once though, is what he said

Famous last words, as his entire life would then upend

Once turned to twice, two turned to three

His whole life was bound, no longer was he free

His mind had one track, he thought of nothing else

School went to the wayside, all he thought of was himself

He needed more money, this lifestyle wasn't cheap

Instead of buying books, dad's money did he reap

He dropped out of school, as Dad still paid the bills

He pocketed the cash, and used it all at will

Things were great, he had money, now all his time it was free

He now had Nothing to do, he now had nothing to be

From party to party, life was all about fun

Go hard and then sleep in, is how his new life run

As time moved on though, things weren't quite as grand

No party was big enough, no matter how long it had been planned

The boy started grasping for meaning, something to be

He'd wasted his time at school, he had now come to see

Sometimes he would long, to see his old dear man

To go back on home, he even started to plan

He'd grown tired of living, such a wasteful life

His conscious would pain him, it was actually quite the strife

But no he couldn't, he'd messed up too dang bad

He'd couldn't go back now, Dad would be too dang mad

If he went back, what would his old man do?

Would he kill him? Wreck him? he’d surely go unglued

That really wasn't the problem, the boy soon realized

Dad was too dang loving, even if he'd messed up both their lives

It was the boy's own conscious, he couldn't face his Dad

After all that he’d been through, since he had been a lad

His entire life, Dad had worked to send the boy to school

And then he went and blew it, went and blew it like a fool

His dad faithfully sent money, this whole long, long time

The way he had treated it, it should have been a crime

Though the boy longed to see him, he wouldn't, not a chance

He wouldn't get close, wouldn't even risk a glance

He couldn't forgive himself, that was the problem now you see

He couldn't forgive himself, and thus he could never be free

Dad would have been happy, to have his son return

In fact, he would have given anything, to take away the burn

He wouldn’t have cared, the time and money had gone to waste

The man wanted his son, no matter what the state

And thus is the tragedy, what makes the story so sad to tell

And thus is the tragedy, to foreshadow the pains of hell

He would have begged his son to come back, and live with him you see

But the conscience of the boy, would never let it be