SMJunePoetry

Ice Cream Cone

Minimum wage and all out of luck,
in sofa cushions, some change was stuck.
Enough to buy one ice cream cone-
we shared it on the long walk home.

And on the trip, the questions flew,
"Why just one cone? And why not two?"
So looking deep within his eyes,
I chose the truth, no need for lies.

Explaining that- while life was tough,
with just one cone, we had enough.
He shook his head, took one last taste,
then gave it back and wiped his face.

The pride I felt to watch him share,
at four years old, he didn't care.
As long as we had time to play,
for him, it was a perfect day.

For all the dreams that I had built,
to watch them fall, I'd felt the guilt.
But being poor was not a crime,
for on my son- I'd spent my time.

Are We There Yet?

Holding to a steady pace,
from the back seat came a voice.
In belief that life was one long race
and fate- a simple choice.

"Are we there yet?" was his main concern,
as he twisted in his seat.
And I felt the sorrow he would learn-
for the trials he had to meet.

"A few more miles...a little while,"
though I knew the trip was long.
But in the mirror, beamed a smile,
for my word could not be wrong.

So we talked and laughed, we shared the ride-
and in time, he took the wheel.
Through the years, we traveled side-by-side,
to think, to hope and feel.

Then I turned to him- my tired voice,
"Are we there yet?" was my plea.
He grinned and said-
"That's God's own choice."
For at last, my boy could see.