"What Would I Say?"

"What Would I Say?"
By: Brendan Cadman


An aging man sat with his feet and his thoughts,
buried in the warm summer sand. 
He looked out far beyond the white caps,
crashing down onto the soaked beach front. 
As he watched the red sun slowly drown into the horizon,
his past rose from the shallow watery grave in his heart. 
Not all was trouble that crowded into in his mind,
with the remaining light of the dwindling sun warming his face, 
and illuminating his soul with remembrances of fond times.
Though scatter clouds would pass overhead from time to time,
blocking out the sun and casting a shadow of darker days. 
It wasn't too long before a young child walked past,
hand in hand with his father toward the water.
When they reached the shore they began skipping rocks,
splashing and rippling the calm evening sea. 
The aging man couldn't help but notice the child,
who wore a face that reminded him of his own long ago.
He amusingly studied the two talk and skip paper thing pebbles,
along the splash until the stones nearly reached the horizon,
before sinking to a final resting place on the ocean floor. 
Watching the father teach and guide his son,
caused another thought to swim into the aging man's mind.

"If I could talk to the kid I once was, what would I say?" 

What would I say when he wanted to rebel against his parents?
Would I tell him to listen to the ones that came before him?
Because sometimes there are questions,
that only time and experience can answer. 

What would I say when he had his heart broken for the first time?
Would I tell him things must break and fall to pieces? 
So that the only one who is capable,
can pick them up and put it back together.

What would I say when the world taught him to hate? 
Would I tell him to love when it's easier to fight? 

What would I say when the world constructed walls around him?
Would I tell him to show respect to everyone he meets?
Because there is more that binds us together,
than separates us. 

What would I say when life's ambiguity began to take its toll?
Would I tell him the only meaning we can rely on,
is the one we forge with our own hands? 

What would I say when he struggled to keep his faith?
Would I tell him to never compromise?
Even in the face of armageddon,
because when you stand for nothing you'll fall for anything.

What would I say when he had the full boulders weight,
of disappointment and defeat heaped on his shoulders? 
Would I tell him dedication and effort,
are often more worthwhile than the final result? 

What would I say when the sweet taste of victory found his lips?
Would I urge him to stay humble? 
Because as crowded as it is at the top,
it is matched only by the loneliness at the bottom. 

What would I say when words put a dagger in his back?
Would I tell him to always speak the truth?
Though it might be hard it the moment,
all the convenience of lies would only eat away at his soul. 

What would I say when death stole someone he loved? 
Would I tell him that their absence was only physical?
That they would live on forever,
as long as they remained in his heart. 

If I could talk to that,
brave, scared, confident and overwhelmed little kid,
standing at the dawn of an impossibly long,
yet agonizingly short road ahead,
knowing everything that I know now,
what would I say?