You have become a founder now,
a vision transpired—
a face lurking inside old crystals,

while I have sought to do things
no founder’s
son has ever seen a father do.

Each in his generation grieves
alone in a darkened fortress
held up by heirloom pillars,
slumping away from arctic wind.
Wanting, wanting, remembering,
he confesses, Father… I failed.
Remembering, hoping, hoping,
he desires for a dim yet waxing
relic to proffer its viridian glow—
restoring the blanched veneer.

Father!

Why can’t we realize in fullness
our fathers’ love,
while mingling in one sphere?

Why must we wait until they pass
beyond the seen stars,
to know with certainty what they did
and what they gave?

Poet’s Notes:

This poem is written in memory of my mission president. For imagery and quoted dialogue in italics, it draws on the 1980 movie Superman II, starring Christopher Reeve and with a story by Mario Puzo.

The featured image was generated using Photoshop. It combines two pictures from Pixabay. Fluorite by stux, and an elderly man portrait by simonwijers.