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

©2025 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

©2025 Terry Breakman

Yesterday, we only had each other
We couldn’t see around the corner
Yesterday, we were passionate lovers
Sometimes cool, sometimes warmer
Did I do what I should have?
What did I think about at night?
Did I say all I could have?
Did I even know what’s right?

I hope I did it well enough
I hope my hugs were never tough
I hope I spent enough time with you
I hope the regrets are few

Today, we have so much more
Sometimes we can see the horizon
Today, we casually watch the wars
That others need to keep their eyes on
Do I do what I need to?
Could I chew more than I bite?
Do I say what I mean to?
Does my calendar sit right?

I hope I do it well enough
I hope my kiss is never rough
I hope I spend enough words on you
I hope you love what we grew into

Tomorrow, we could be anywhere
Nothing on this path is prearranged
We may pray or being asking for a prayer
Our chairs rearranged, and fortunes changed
Will I do what needs to be done?
Will I consider everyone?
Will I misfire like a rusty gun?
Will I hold roses that feel a ton?

I hope, when my last sunset fades
I’ve left more light than shade

©2025 Terry Breakman

They drew their names at their heights on the wall
Starting when they were less than three feet tall
Those walls have been painted many times
But we always paint around those pencil lines

Now our boy’s painting his place far away
And our daughter paints portraits in Tampa Bay
As I watch you paint your face for tonight
I remember playing tag with flashlights

After all the crazy days
That just ended when we dropped
After all the restless nights
All the plans we started and stopped
After all the holidays
All the climbin’ on that tree
I guess my takeaway
Is that it’s just you and me
And all they’ve come to be

They’d spend an afternoon in this box of sand
We haven’t tossed it like we’d planned
We sit amid these toys and notions
And pretend we’re with them at the ocean

Now our boy’s sanding a door for his place
And our girl has grown-up glasses on her face
As you wash the sand off your feet
I remember kickball in the street

After all the crazy days
And all of the driving around
After all the restless nights
All the parks and the playgrounds
After all the birthdays
And all the scraped-up knees
I guess my takeaway
Is that it’s just you and me
And who they’ve grown to be

Pictures on the wall
The squeaky spot in the hall
Textin’ when we used to call
Another summer turns to fall
They’re making their own memories
Again and again
It’s not always so easy
Knowing we’re not in all of them

After all the crazy days
And all the ups and downs
After all the restless nights
Drivin’ through so many towns
Family dinners on Sundays
All the highways and the seas
I guess my takeaway
Is that it’s just you and me
And who they’re gonna be

©2025 Terry Breakman