I will love and love and love.
by 
Written by Stewart Acuff
I watched my 12 year old Sam skimboard yesterday
In waves too small to surf he threw his small board, jumped on it and rode and rode and rode
Watching the way a proud parent who needs no reason nor accomplishment watches
And loves and loves and loves
The way I watch him skateboard or play baseball and basketball.
Not a single matter to me whether he is good, except that it makes him feel good and happy
We ran together yesterday
An act of love on his part much greater than me watching him skimboard. Running ain’t his thing.
We are buddies here is this old beach house
Today we will fish
Try to catch whiting, maybe a sea trout, and baby sharks – two or so feet long. Oh yes, and sting rays.
Sam will love the pull and liveliness of the rod if he can stand the wait of boredom.
We will keep nothing.
No amount of video games which I quietly hate rids him of his hatred of killing.
So we will wait today and talk about the sea and its tides and the colors of the sea and the sky and where they join, melt together at the horizon and wonder where the odd freighter is bound and his favorite skateboarders and how Obama is doing because without nuance he loves Obama.
And as we talk and wonder about the world soon to be his, we will wait for the tap of the small whiting or the violent jerk of the hungry baby shark.
And if we’re lucky I will teach him how to take out the hook and return the fish to its home in this warm, green sea and regardless,
I will love and love and love.
© Creative Commons Copyright 2012
Tags: acuff, poem, poetry, prose, stewart acuff
