(For Stefan and Rachael)
It was in the flat light of predawn,
On an early July morning,
That Father Time woke him gently.
Come, said Father Time. I have something
I want you to see.
And so he rubbed his eyes and pulled
himself to his feet, his head
Still pounding from nights before.
The walk to the beach was not so short,
That he didn’t have time
To wonder at the strangeness of it all.
But the sun was already at work, painting
The sky in reds and pinks and the crisp
Morning air hinted of anticipation.
So he pulled his flat brimmed hat lower
And resolved in his head to follow Him blind.
What he noticed first was the salty air
And the sounds of the bay lapping
Up on the rocky beach. It wasn’t until
Father Time pointed her out
that he saw they were no longer alone.
What he noticed next was how his heart
Now beat louder than his head
And the chill that brushed along his neck.
From the waterline she turned back
Toward them both and when she saw him
Her eyes twinkled and she smiled with joy.
It was as if he knew her, had always
Known her. He instantly felt drawn in
And moved as if to run toward her
And pull her from her feet and into his arms
And then to never let her go.
But in that moment he could not move
Not yet, said Father Time.
And then He was gone.
And when he turned back toward the water
His heart sunk to see that so was she.
He remained as the sun climbed
Into the sky, and the salty bay lapped
on the rocks. Never before had he felt so alone.
Years passed him by and he traveled
Far - across oceans and over top mountains
Always in search for what he had seen,
What he had felt, that early morn.
Though he found many friends and shared
Many sunrises, and even a few beaches,
He never forgot her smile, or the twinkle
In her eyes, or how they had made him feel.
And on several occasions, on early
July mornings, he would return
To that same rocky beach by the bay,
Where he would wait for hours to bargain
With Father Time, longing to see her
For at least one moment more - though
To no surprise he never found answers
And the faces he searched were never as lovely.
But then one early July morning,
Years beyond his hope for ever seeing her
Again, he was once more gently awakened.
It’s time now, said Father Time.
But thinking it a dream, he sighed
and rolled over and again closed his eyes.
It‘s time now, again said Father Time.
We can’t be late or you may miss her yet.
When he laid there still, Father Time
Reached down and pulled him up into his arms.
And like he was his own son,
The Father carried him down
To the rocky beach and the bay.
His eyes were still closed when they arrived
But he could smell the salt and again hear
the water splashing onto the rocks.
Then he heard something more
And so he opened his eyes and looked.
There she was, dressed in a white summer dress,
Light hair resting on her shoulders, the same smile
And the same twinkle in her eyes.
Tears filled his eyes and his knees felt weak.
The moment he had dreamt of for years
Was finally here and it took away his breath.
And then he saw what he had first heard,
Two boys at her side laughing
And cheering as they took turns skipping rocks
Into the sea. They looked as familiar to him
As she had looked so many years before.
It is time, again said Father Time.
You should go to them now,
They are expecting you.
He turned and looked at Father Time.
Why did I have to wait for her
For so long, he asked Him plainly.
Father Time did not blink but replied,
Perhaps it was not you who had to wait for her
But her who had to wait for you, my son.
Either way don’t wait another moment,
Go to them and together you will be complete.
And then Father Time was gone once again.
Fearful that they too would be gone
He quickly turned back toward the waterline.
To his amazement the three of them stood
There, looking up at him with smiles, the same smile on three different faces really,
And then the youngest boy waived to him.
Without hesitation he ran to meet them.
When he got to them she reached out
And took his hand. There you are, she said
To him with a knowing look.
In that moment he got the feeling
That perhaps they had already shared
A lifetime together, and that he had merely
Been away for a few moments
And that he had just caught up to them all.
Yeah sorry that took so long, He said.
She laughed and placed his hand
On her belly. You’re right on time, she said.
Now he laughed as well and then looked down
At the boys. Can I skip rocks with you guys,
He asked them. Sure daddy, said one.
Here use this one, said the other. And
In that moment he knew that they were complete.
