Son, Don't

Son, take a seat and a minute,
For a man so great, the world awaits
And my confidence shouts out your name.

In my arms you squealed your first breath,
Since then I have watched you transform in breadth,
Laughed at your wince and grins,
And now its time to taste the bitter-sweet;
Life.

Life will offer pebbles,
Rocks sometimes,
But in return demand life worth mansions.
Look before you nod son,
Lest you say yes to hell itself.

You'll know hate and love,
You'll know want and waste,
You'll know right from wrong,
But still you'll stumble in the dark
Wallowing in the deceit people bring
And the line between friend and foe will thin day by day
Till it's all a blurred pool of trust and wary worry

So, son,
Don't say yes before your gut and head,
Don't jump at ideal deals too sweet to turn down,
Don't embrace every open arms you see,
Don't decide before you think,
Life awaits, and I have less of a choice
Than to offer you;
like a bare sacrifice
For the atonement of my misgivings
And failed hopes my old man carried to his oblivion.