Now I know that you exist (Ya se que existes)

This is probably one of my favourite poems.  It examines the innocence of a child, young faith, the absence of malice.  I also love it because it shows a happier side of Dad, his pride, his love for his family.  Dedicated to my big brother José Luis on his 46^th birthday from Dad’s book Urgent Poetry (Poesía de urgencia). 

Now I know that you exist (Ya se que existes)

My seven year old son asks me about God.

He wants to know if God exists and where He lives.

He pre-empts his own concept:

says that God lives a little higher than the sun, passed the moon

straight down the path of the astronauts.

I have answered yes, that God exists

just the way he imagines Him.  But that he can do without

the intergalactic adventure.

That although His reign is the terminal

where he parks the travelling rocket,

he will find God on the playground at school,

in the shade under the tree where he waits for his ride,

in his school desk, the blackboard, the textbook,

in the severe or sweet voice of the teacher,

in the triumph of an Olympic goal during recess,

in the sorrow of detention and bad grades,

in the classmate with incipient charms,

in his sisters who see him as a little man,

in the mother who sees through his eyes,

in the rain that falls this morning,

in the garden that will show off its roses during the afternoon sun,

but also in his own question.

It is enough for me, my son, that you explore

if God exists and where He lives,

to know that you exist.

To my son

José Luis