Bye Bye Baby

There is a man
Who sits with his head
In his hands and rocks
Like a baby
But doesn't sleep
Because he
Keeps thinking
Things

In blood spatter
Repeating patterns
Questioning
Thinking things
Remembering
While he rocks
Deciphering and
Deciding

Questions need
Answering
Thinking and
Rocking
Getting no where
Sitting there
With his hands
And head
Heavy

Just like his
Heart and spirit
Weighed by the years
Spent traveling here
In the living room chair
Between life in here
And living out
There

He doesn't care
Just soothing rocking
Hands cradling head
Quiets voices talking
And thinking
Questions need
Answering

What acts
          Like a baby

But walks
            Like a man

A child that cannot
            Comprehend

There was a boy
Who once split his head
Against the rocks
Of abuse and neglect
Which created questions
Sleepless nights
Thinking
People talking  
Rocking

And rage
Kept caged
Confined to a chair
Nothing has changed
For nearly fourty years
Except the face
Eyebrows furrowed deep
Gray beard has replaced
Youthfull soft
Cheeks

He only sees
What he wants
Only hears what
He thinks

When
Holding his head
In his hands
Answering
The questions
And questioning
The answers
Rocking
He thinks
Hush a bye baby
Hush a bye
Bye