"What Now My Son?"

"What now my Son?"
By Brian Kelly

"What now my Son, now that complex life's begun?
What will fate bring to thee?, t'will not all be fun!.
Those early days are full of fears. 'Does he grip tight?'
Hearing, reflexes, reactions, smiles: all, we hope, are right.
Now learn to crawl, and please us with your smile,
Proud parents, singing boast, on passing your first trial

"What now my Son, now that you've started school?
Will you work hard, to show that you are no ones fool?
Team games, when entered, striving for success,
Teaches morals good, then life will be a lesser stress.
Now is moulding time, to form the future tensile man.
Do your crying now, then dry your eyes, goodbye Peter Pan."

"What now my Son," a large and swaggering youth is seen,
Dress sense bright, who often must, before a mirror preen.
New date each night, who takes his fill, life holds yet no strings.
"Enjoy life now, play it hard, for soon the serious time begins.
Are you sate with play ? Take more, this is the spring of life.
Tomorrow is Summer, adulthood lurks, ahead maybe much strife."

"What now my Son?, now serious choice comes face to face with you.
Will you take a wife and make new life? as God ordained we do!
A single life is the easy way, be answerable only to one.
But you are made of sterner stuff, So you must make a Son.
Choose well a wife, be lovers and be friends, for here abundance lays.
Reproduce, set down firm roots, 'Ere arrives short Autumn days."

"What now my Son, what now your worth, are you a proven man.?
Did you keep apace, without disgrace, as through this life you ran.
In autumn's years you should now find, if you to all were true,
Contentment sweet, deep the peace, for you have naught to rue.
Rest now your plough, your tools of steel, life's battle you have won,
And sit you down, without a frown, and look towards your son."

"What now your son? A fine young man?, in decay I cannot see.
Is he the man, so strong and true, that you would have him be.
Will he share pleasures through his life, the like of which we shared,
To honour you, his parents true, and show how much he cared.
In silent judgement now, I sit aside, unable to take part.
My hopes for you. 'Live long and true! Now life I must depart."

Copyright Brian Kelly 14th. April 1998.