Terrence Dunn

8 AND 73

A quiet evening at work The phone rings twice First my son, then my father My son wants to talk about our trip to Florida But not about his math test He only got a 95 A 95's fine, I say But it's not perfect, he says Don't we try to be perfect? My father wants to talk about our trip to Florida But not about his open-heart surgery The chances are only 80-20, he says I say, 80's pretty good, isn't it? But it's not 100, he says I want them to tell me I am going to live I tell them both what they need to hear So I can get back to work I am a busy man But then I am left behind with the numbers and the regret The eight year old and the seventy-three year old will be gone soon enough A boy grows into a man A father grows into a shadow And I watch them go A foolish man suddenly crying at his desk With nothing to do but say goodbye.

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