In Front of Me
- Sebastian Jack
- Dec 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 6
a mother waited, smiled, knelt
before the boy, his FIRST day school
“I’ll BOW your laces.. WATCH,” he felt
a learning filled with joy, our fool
would stare at tangles threaded, love
so plain, COULD MAKE a heart, its beat
uneven.. leaving nest as dove
to soar in LEATHER wrapping feet
---
a father looked at almost-man
with LOOSENED collar, LOOPING mess
around his neck, the class began
“I’ll teach you how,” a LESSON less
on ways to KNOT A BIAS WAND
of silk about a son.. is more
a moment shared, an ever bond
BATON IS PASSED through open door
---
with window full of BREATHING breezes
stood before his friend, “I think
I feel an EYELASH STUCK..” as freezes
letting roommate look, would blink
when trying NOT to notice nearness
craving closer interspersed
with running from, in SHARP unclearness
finding ways to hide a thirst
---
in LOCKERROOM with others dressing
zipper stuck, his Levi’s half
revealing, GAPING ENTRY, pressing
twisting, yanking boxers.. laugh
of someone wearing ONLY TOWEL
‘fore our lad, permitted try
release the metal teeth, “I NOW WILL
reach inside, unsnag..” unshy
---
random night of bingeing, beers
and “South Park” seasons, BESTIES couched
with both their girlfriends out, our peers
were FEASTING on the FREEZER, slouched
with spoons in mouths and CHOCOLATE LIPS
their giggles mounting, turned the one
“You’ve ice cream on your cheek..” the DRIPS
were licked, as two, their lives, undone
---
NOTHING changes, more the same
if never find the light of soul
UNLEARN the reasons, felling blame
accepting self and what is old
as ever part of child WINNING
boy who prayed would grow up good
and make his PARENTS PROUD, unsinning
choosing what he shouldn’t..
should