Perhaps he attends
preschool, but the first departure
occurs at the entrance
to kindergarten. You will

most assuredly cry,
but your child may or may not.
One child, perhaps,
will complete the entire year

selectively mute.
A great weight will fall
when he speaks
at orientation to first grade.

The second departure
occurs at the
entrance to college.
Again you will cry.

In fact, you will
cry each August until
he graduates.
Then will come a job

out-of-town or a marriage.
At this point,
you will be beyond tears.
Your OB-GYN will inform

you that your goal
is to raise children who don’t need you.
You will agree.
Still, your body will deny this.