The Longest Road

Poem by Tim Bete, OCDS

How many days did he walk,
mulling over words he would say
to a father scorned and insulted,
replaying scenarios in his mind.

Still so focused on himself,
all he could think of was,
“I will say this,
and he will probably say that,”

reliving each burning memory,
scourging himself for past deeds,
recreating pain and misery,
enkindling the blaze of a private Hell.

And if for a moment
he considered forgiveness,
he quickly threw fuel on pain’s flame
until it exploded
with all thought of mercy consumed.

At home a father’s love burned,
thinking only of his son’s return.
Not a second spent on past deeds,
the fire of hope sustained him.

A father filled with the
cremating blaze of compassion,
turning all memories of sin
forever into ash.

When they met on the road,
an embrace, a kiss, an apology unheard,
their two fires collided,
one of pain, the other of love,

and at that moment,
the son could not remember
why he had left,
nor could he fathom
the thought of ever leaving again.