Poem: Young Man's Game

Some things fill his eyes with tears, and crying is a young man's game.

A Young Man's Game It hurts you when he needs     more than you can give Timelessness in knowing limits     and you know yours But some things fill his eyes with tears Disconnected things without reason Mallards settling at sunset     in patterned, perfect unison Or the holding of a seamless note     beyond all breath A remembered look on his child’s face     before age caught up with childhood     and taught the power of a look Eyes that catch his, lingering like a photograph The well-known thousand words and more And you have looked inside him     and other times away With wordless knowing of your limits Either way, it fills his eyes with tears     and crying is a young man’s game

This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats.