Oh Father! My lovely Father! Please return

on lonely nights or days, you discern

when I need strength and solace;

when life is intense and lawless.

             My mind! My mind is in disarray

             from loss of love; From loves so lost.

             Can you hear me, Father?

             Our paths will soon cross.

Oh Father! My Lovely Father! Grant me signs

before the nightfall calls me to resign,

smothers me with promise

as I sense darkness upon us.

             Sweet! My Father! Please take me.

             I shall wait at any cost

          and surrender at will

              as our paths cross.

Behold! Father, please align

everything wrong with my mind.

My lovely Father, please return

on lonely nights or days, you discern—

   Oh Father—the constant signs.

   Or will I always be lost

   without you

   until our paths cross?

[Stephen Earley Jordan II is the author of several books of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. He has also directed and written a few award-winning short, experimental films. Check out his latest book published January 2022, Gods Mourn Too: Essays on Writing and Questions for Thought.]