fatherly advice

you try to explain
to your son,
as he suffers
a failed relationship,
writhing in
the heart ache
of it all,
that it will
diminish in time.
that she will be
like a ship
in the night sailing
away, her light
getting smaller
and smaller
as she drifts farther
away. you gently weave
this metaphor
around his anguish,
as he holds his
head in his hands,
not moving,
sobbing quietly.
then you realize
when you've
finished talking,
and he says,
what, what did you
say. that it's time
to let him heal
as best he can
on his own,
not just this time,
but for others too.