I Had Only to Lift My Head

I set up

two trees.

Beneath them

one person.

Very small.

The shade

came down

to the small shoulders.

I thought of when I was young.

When I came home late from playing

the meal was already

laid out.

I

ate first.

If I lifted my head while eating

there was someone

looking at me.

In those days

I had only to lift my head.

Even after I went far away

I thought that when I returned

that place would be as it was.

But

coming back

took too long.

The sun moved.

The shade too

shifted a little to the side.

Light touched

the small person's shoulder.

I

put my hand to the tree.

I brought the shade

down a little more.

The small person

stood in that place.

Only the shade

came back to the shoulders.

Beneath it

I was still

a son.