What Do You See, My Son?

I wonder what you see, my son?

What it was that you gazed upon?

A chance picture on Father’s Day,

Caught you looking another way.

A faint reflection in some glass

While we were looking at the past

Caught you looking ahead, beyond

I wonder what your eye was on?

Was it a future in the air?

Were you dreaming to be up there?

Did those planes set your mind to dream

Of soaring, of being on that team?

Will you defend this precious land?

Keep us safe and make a stand?

Will you be one that hears the call

To service us one and all?

You are, you are my beautiful son

Who I will love when Time is done.

Stay safe, stay brave, stay true to you

Know we love you when day is through.

But still I wonder oh so long

My Son, what was your eye upon?

My son and I went to a local Air Show on the day before Father's Day. He had never been to one before, so even this small town static display was something special for us. We wandered around for a couple of hours, poking our heads into this and that plane, just enjoying ourselves.

We went aboard the B-17 Sentimental Journey and gained a new appreciation for what our ancestors went through in WWII. It was a struggle for me to get around in it. The belly turret gun was so small, it would have held a man not much bigger than my 9 year old son. I took pictures left and right, of my son looking at the planes and helicopters. We really had a lot of fun together.

When I got home and downloaded the pictures onto my laptop, I saw one that stopped me in my tracks. A chance reflection of my young son caught in the plastic cover of the belly turret to the B-17. I always saw him as childlike, my little buddy, but this picture showed me a glimpse into the future, with him looking away, ahead. A serious look is on his face and he appears to be far beyond his years. It scared me a little, for it was the first time I saw him as something other than my little boy. He had aged some ten years or so in an instant.

I hope you enjoyed my little poem, dedicated to all those sons and daughters who have gone before us. Those who heard the call and grew up a bit quicker than they should have had too. I salute you, and your families.

May God continue to bless you and keep you safe.