My oldest son is still analyzing,
turning over his recollections, colored by childlike understanding
          and blurred by all that is new
asking questions
that cut to the quick of my heart.
The tightrope dance of honesty and sanctuary
          is death-defying
but I owe it to him to find the balance.
Weighing
my perfect children
juxtaposed with
the imperfect marriage that created them
will be a lifelong fascination;
All he needs to know
          is that life is full of contradictions
          and that my love for him is the stuff of certainty
any way I look at it.

6/26/26