- 05 May 2004 17:24
#163169
You dived right into this century
But landed short of the shore
Tiny feet and tiny hands
Too weak to swim
Your eyes half-opened and fists half clenched
Half ready for a fight
Half a heart
Half a beat
But still a right
To live. The nurses did their best for you.
But it was too late
The tides had grabbed you and pulled you down with them
There was no training for you, my son,
No armbands, your parents couldn’t swim
It was too rough and the tides were coming in.
But landed short of the shore
Tiny feet and tiny hands
Too weak to swim
Your eyes half-opened and fists half clenched
Half ready for a fight
Half a heart
Half a beat
But still a right
To live. The nurses did their best for you.
But it was too late
The tides had grabbed you and pulled you down with them
There was no training for you, my son,
No armbands, your parents couldn’t swim
It was too rough and the tides were coming in.
I use the words you taught me. If they don't mean anything any more, teach me others. Or let me be silent. - Samuel Beckett