Struck by this photo of you
Before life had taken you to places you had yet to discover
Did you know then
I’d be looking at this photo and you would be gone?

I see a young man of promise
sure of himself with the future ahead.
Did you know then
that one day you would forget my name?

I am captured by your stance
so confident and full of presence
Did you know then
I would miss you so deeply?

I realized that I was not even on your mind
I had not been born yet when it was taken
Did you know then
I would search for pieces of you still?

I keeping looking at the man you were
wondering what you were thinking then
Did you know then
you would die a man of mystery?

I search your face for some evidence
of who you were then
Did you know then
you would leave us all with questioning who you were?

As I study each line and commit it to memory
I’m thankful for this photo
Did you know then
I would carry this image in my mind of the last time I saw you?

I didn’t know it but someone did
that I needed to replace those last memories
Did you know then
you would touch us all so that we can touch each other?

Tell me Pa did you know?