A BOY TO HIS DAD

To get his goodnight kiss he stood
Beside my chair one night
And raised an eager face to me,
A face with love alight.

And as I gathered in my arms
The son God gave to me,
I thanked the lad for being good,
And hoped he'd always be.

His little arms crept 'round my neck,
And then I heard him say
Six simple words I can't forget--
Six words that made me pray.

They turned a mirror on my soul,
On secrets no one knew.
They startled me, I hear them yet;
He said, "I want to be like you."

Herbert Parker