Before

The old man leans forward, brows furrowed
Scanning the valleys, mountains, plains of your stranger’s face,
Sees a familiar echo and asks, “Who are you?”
Finally, the question you have been waiting for him to ask your entire life.
You tell him your name.
“And I’ve finally found you.” You continue.
“Before now I sailed across four seas six ways,
And climbed to the sky on foot to find you.
Before that I was a soldier in the Resistance
And I killed men I had known from birth
Before that I was a mercenary
And I killed men I had never known
Before that I did not remember you
And I had forgotten myself
Before that I had no name
And I was your son.”