On Becoming Grandpa

When the child is born
the world will contain
another small piece of confusion.
And I'm a little afraid.
It's dark out there in the future.
The days are delicate, in balance
by sheer luck.

Who will the child be,
this new visitor? I won't be
too shy to meet a new face
but I may be too uncertain
to take the offered hand.
I will not really be here for long,
I might say. Nice to meet you
as I pass by.

We will spend time
in laughter and the fright will
probably pass as most shyness does.
It's the time of preparation
that hurts the most.