for someday, pt 2

For the boy with broad eyes,

The way you tackle your father and he looks at me,

laughing about your surprising strength.

And he insisted you play football even though your shoulders were too wiry

and your head didn't fit in the helmet.

I hope you held the door open for her

and remembered her sad eyes in your prayers.

And I hope you love your sister for all the spilled makeup

and stolen sweatshirts.

I love you for the low grades

and the high temperatures.

And I love you for the laugh lines you grow,

the too-long arms

the first time you try to shave.

I'm sorry you walk in with tense shoulders & hate the lunch lines,

it will take you 2 more years to figure it out,

but I'll laugh at the tie purchases

and the food in your braces

and the girlfriend you tried to keep a secret.

I'm sorry I got angry, and I'm sorry you caught that gene like a disease.

And I'm sorry dad's on a call, but keep your hands out of the pantry

because dinner will be ready in 10 minutes.

I'm scared you'll cry without a shoulder to lean on
and I'm scared of whose shoulder you'll choose to lean on.

But never stop wearing your socks through the grass,
the stains only remind me of sports I didn't want you to quit and summers without cell phones.

The stains won't come out and student loans still exist,
but I love you.

I'm sorry I swore today
but I'm more sorry for the look in your eyes as you heard me say it.

Please read the books your dad suggests for you.

He just wants you to hear his music so he can tell you all the stories.

Thank you for the birthday note you left on my pillow,

for driving your sister to school.

I'm sorry you quit piano lessons

but I heard you practicing the other night,

so I leaned my head against the wall of the kitchen

and pretended that we owed nothing to anyone.

You sounded good in there.

And when your jersey is in a box,

at least your talents won't be.

And I wish I could've made this more beautiful,

put this is the form of a poem that made sense to only you.

But love is simple

and I love you.