To My Son

Photo by Paula Mayer

I love that you
Volunteer with horses
Working - is it 2 jobs now?
Plus engineering classes
And woodworking and leather-working
And hiking and fishing and climbing
And country dancing
On the side

But I wish I was still the one
You turned to when you got hurt
That I was there to stop the bleeding
And make sure you had your tetanus shot

I love that you cook
Your menus rich and creative
A smooth dance in the kitchen
With your roomies
Who catch fish for dinner

But I wish we were close enough
To meet for dinner
Or breakfast
Or even a cup of coffee
Or glass of wine

I love that you
Spent your summer
Wrangling horses
In the Rockies
Wearing cowboy boots
And the chaps you made

But I wish you still came home
For vacation
And I knew your latest girlfriend
And which shirt you like to wear
When you go out dancing

I love the man you are becoming
But I wish you were still
My little boy

Words by Beverly Ash Gilbert to my son Morgan Gilbert
Side note: I wrote this in 2019 while he was still in college - he is now living his dream as a cattle rancher and talented leather-worker - you can see his work here: Morgan Gilbert - Gilbert Saddlery and Tack

Photography by Paula Mayer