And again - all the time,
He could sit there and wait.
All alone - that's not a crime,
He would lose all his faith.

When he stares down at me
I feel so [bad word] cold!..
Doctor says:"Can't You see?
He will never grow old."

Doctor leaves. I am tense.
He's as numb as a wall.
"Hey", I say, "Make some sense.
Mother waits in the hall."

He is silent and calm
And his arms striped with cuts.
I must say something warm...
But I seem to have no guts.

"Richard. Hey! Speak to me!"
Echo answers again.
"Son. I'm counting to three."
...Then I feel all his pain,

When he talks suddenly
"Leave me, dad. I am fine."
He's so sane! He's so free!..
Doctor says: "Almost nine."

I go out. Nightmare ends.
Talk to wife, on and on...
In the window he stands.
He is laughing... My son.