My golden boy, my only son

In the shrinking moments between light and dark,

I stroke your wispy hair and watch you slip to sleep;

The closing eyes of my golden boy, my only son.

Your head against my chest,

My heartbeat and your breath in their syncopated rhythm;

The ragtime of my golden boy, my only son.

When the light is gone I linger to watch you sleep.

Your face on my shoulder still warm from the afternoon sun;

The sun-warmed face of my golden boy, my only son.

Too soon you will wake up a man,

And I will only have this memory to hold.

This memory of my golden boy, my only son.