I'll See Ya Around

The sun cresting over the hill, pierces through the fog,

And through the eerie blur the light of day transforms this dewy bog.

The stagnant humid air thins in the sun's evaporating glow

As I trudge along this stony, silent hillside heaving, sweaty, and slow.

My shoes begin to saturate with each step along the grass

I usually stop here on my morning run, when life is going a bit too fast.

“You got a sec to talk today?” I ask in a breathless tone.

“It feels a bit sudden, I know, but this seems better than talking over the phone.”

I stoop and squat down, my forearms resting on my knees,

My head hung in exhaustion while all time seems to freeze.

“Its been awhile, I admit. But I hope you are doing well.

Things are okay for us right now, but the cost of living is hell.”

He’s silent amid my breathless, pointless chatter.

But that kind of talk with him was fine, for him it never seemed to matter.

I chuckle for a moment until a lump swells deep within my throat.

Not a single word follows, anything more would just feel wrote.

More words would fill with insincerity, feel hollow and phoned in,

Sometimes to sit in silence and just listen is not a wayward sin.

And so we both just sat there, as the fog continued to fade

While all the world held stagnant, as if the hands of time were stayed.

Soon that lump dissipated, and staggered sobbing breaths all evened out

Our conversation seemed filled with nothing, but I feel the weight of a little less doubt.

As I stand up from my stooped posture, my hand gently slips from off the stone.

And I stand amid the silence, beside the fallen, all alone.

The scent upon the wind is sweet, though always sad.

I guess, until next time. I’ll see ya around, Dad.