Let Go

You lie in your bed
The one in which
you gave life to us all.
Now like a wounded bird.
You flutter in gasp
of half breaths.
Refusing
Food you cannot eat
and
Water you cannot drink.
Remember
the young you dad.
I was your four year old.
Struggling
to learn how to swim
In the public pool
Holding tight
onto the side rail
terrified of the unknown.
“Let go”, you cried “let go”
You can do it….”Let go”
As I swam away
in new found independence
You shouted I told you so.
I now shout
Daddy let go… Let go.
Remember
the autumn you loved.
The leaves let go so quietly
they did not fight
to hang on the branches.
To wither and die.
But float carefree
to grasp the earth below.
The tree goes on.
The seasons go on.
and new leaves grow.