The Atlantic Breakmen

My son graduated from college
Came home with all this knowledge
Set about plottin’ his life’s next phase
Interviewed with all these firms
But amid the Covid germs
Things got delayed days after days

So he stuck around the home
With his mom and I, and honed
That resume and networked, with some fear
That this sittin’-around just might
Turn into more than a few nights
And could become a whole wasted year

Wasted year
Haulin’ brush with his dad
Explainin’ to me the latest fads
Tellin’ me that his tequila beats my beer
Wasted year
Watchin’ Netflix all night long
In the mornin we’re goin’ strong
The sun rises once again, it appears
On this wasted year

Then the offer finally arrived
My boy’s hope was revived
Said, “Dad, it’s what I wanted – a job in L.A.”
So we packed his car up good
Researched all the neighborhoods
I said, “Don’t forget this bear from your childhood days”

Wasted year
Flippin’ burgers with his dad
Rememberin’ all the times we had
Tellin’ me that his tequila beats my beer
Wasted year
Playin’ cards out on the deck
Go for ice cream, what the heck
The sun sets once again with some fear
On this wasted year

My son called the other day
He said, “It’s really nice in L.A.”
I said, “The pictures look real sweet from out here
But, Buddy don’tcha need a retreat
From all that adult responsibility?
‘Cause I’d love to see you more than once a year

Wasted year
Movin’ furniture with Dad
Tellin’ me my music’s bad
And insisting his tequila beats my beer!
Wasted year
Let’s take the dog for a walk
We don’t even have to talk
I wish the sun had never set and disappeared
On that wasted year

I can’t wait to hear what’s in store
I hope you find what you’ve been lookin’ for
I just wish that we had just one more
Wasted year

©Terry Breakman

I take out the trash much less
Not as many dishes in the sink
I sleep a little later I guess
It’s kinda cleaner now, I think
Used to pick you up and tie your shoes
Remember teaching you to ride that bike
Had to make you lunch and set curfew
Had to hold your hand on a steep hike

It’s a breeze now that you’ve grown
It’s all downhill since you’ve flown
My little girl, believe me
I wish it weren’t so easy 

Don’t have to read that safety label
Got much more time on our hands
Another empty space at the dinner table
Your mom and I are makin’ new plans
Used to pick you ‘cause you were small
Guard the table’s edge when you threw dice
Remember teaching you to throw a ball
Had to hold your hand on slippery ice 

Well, it’s a breeze now that you’ve grown
It’s all downhill since you’ve flown
My little girl, believe me
I wish it weren’t so easy

 Here we go, you said while drivin’ that car
I don’t know the name of that shiny star
Let me show you, Dad, this sand in a jar
Will I grow, and learn to play the guitar

 Used to lift you to the tree limb
Say, “Don’t worry, it’s just a dream”
Remember teaching you to swim
Had to hold your hand on the balance beam

 It’s a breeze now that you’ve grown
It’s all downhill since you’ve flown
My baby girl, believe me
I wish it weren’t so easy

From this job, you’ve kinda freed me
But…I wish it weren’t so easy

©Terry Breakman