What I Leave Behind

There's a crack in the kitchen window Where the morning paints the floor And a cup of yesterday's coffee I forgot to clear once more

There's a box of things I swore I'd keep Old tickets, folded plans And a picture on the staircase Before the years got in my hands

I spent my life building higher Thinking someday I'd arrive Never asking what would stand here When I wasn't here to try

When the house gets handed over And my name fades with the paint Will someone face a harder morning With the strength I helped them claim?

What I leave behind Won't be mine to hold Not the walls, not the things I spent my life calling home

If I gave someone the courage To get back up and try Then something more than these two hands Will outlive this work of mine

What I leave behind

Not the things But the difference In someone else's morning

What I leave behind

There's a kid who called me Sunday Said, “My tools are in the truck I've been sitting in this driveway Trying not to wake them up

There's another job on Monday I don't know how to face I used to think I had it in me Now I just feel out of place”

And it took me to that hallway Years ago, my boots still on An unfinished bid beside me I couldn't bear to take along

So I told him I'd been there too How I'd nearly quit the trade How I called a friend that evening Who came by and helped me stay

He was quiet for a long time Then he let a long breath go Said, “I'll call you after Monday” I said, “Good. Just let me know.”

After we hung up, I sat there With the phone still in my hand Thinking of the friend who'd shown up And beginning to understand

What I leave behind Won't be mine to hold Not the walls, not the things I spent my life calling home

If I gave someone the courage To get back up and try Then something more than these two hands Will outlive this work of mine

What I leave behind

Not the things But the difference In someone else's morning

What I leave behind

I thought I'd know I'd mattered When I'd finally made a name When the years had paid me something For the years I'd given away

Now I see that younger man With his boots beside the door He couldn't see past Monday But someone helped him see one more

I couldn't give that kid an answer I could give him what I knew

Someone once stayed late for me Now I could stay there too

What I leave behind Isn't mine to hold It's the courage in another When they're standing on their own

And somewhere down the road Someone else may need what he knows He might pull a chair beside them Like a friend did years ago

What I leave behind May be something I won't see A light on in a kitchen Where there's one more place to be

Let my name fade with the paint Let these walls belong to someone new There's a voice beyond this house now Saying, “I've been there too”

What I leave behind

Not the stone... Not the name...

Just a chair pulled close And someone saying,

“I'm listening.”