A Father's Thought

They say the little fellow looks like me,
But I'm hoping he'll be better than I've been,
And I'm hoping and I'm planning that he'll see
A little more of sunshine than I've seen.
Oh, I sit and watch him there,
Smiling at me from his chair,
And I'm dreaming of the days that are to be;
And I'm hoping he'll attain
All the goals I couldn't gain
In the years when he is treading after me.
He's exactly like his father, so I'm told,
But I'm hoping he will be a better man;
On what I may gain of glory or of gold
I have ceased to give my effort or to plan.
Through the boy who looks like me
I've another chance to be
A credit to myself, and so I say
If I can but see him gain
What I never could attain,
At the end, without regrets, I'll pass away.