after i was gone

I remember
when my son was barely a month old
and staring into
his eyes
with wonder.
this person did not exist
a short while ago.
I shed tears,
not of joy
or sadness, but a strange
feeling
of amazement at the miracle
of life, I held
him,
wondering what lay ahead
for this boy.
what troubles, what fun,
what love
was in his future,
what journey would he be
on, most
of which would take place
after I was gone.