my son, my son

When David heard that Absalom
         his beloved son, his flesh-of-flesh
was slain he went
         numbed now to the bone
up into his chamber
         in a place where only emptiness mattered
over the gate and wept;
         death consumed his paternal tears
and thus he said as he walked
         choking leaded words from a deadened soul:
"My son, O my son,
         “How can fate steal my son’s heart from me
oh Absalom my son,
         how can I not pray for your liberation
would God
         that my loss go not unrevenged and
I had died for thee,
         that your ethereal soul claims my empty life,
oh Absalom my son, my son
         my beloved son…”



my son, my son
[2009.26.2…b]
A Cleave Poem
based on II Samuel, 18:33

See "The Cleave Poem"