Concerning "Walking Away" There are two contributors. The poet recalls his child's attempt at independence and maturity during a football game eighteen years ago. The poet's speaker finds the experience challenging and fights to accept the first step of his child's increasing self-sufficiency. The poem is composed of three parts: I, II, and III. In part I, the child is described as looking up to his father with hope. Although he must be walking away from his father, the child believes that this act will make him like his father. Part II describes how the child feels when he realizes that he is being left behind by his father. He does not want this to happen but knows that it is for the best. In part III, the child tries to understand why his father has walked away from him. He believes that if his father knew what would happen then he would never have left. Part IV of the poem tells us about the child who has grown up and becomes an adult. Now that he is an old man, he remembers the day that his son walked away from him for the last time. Even though he is very sad, the old man understands why his son had to go because there was nothing else for him to hold on to. He concludes by saying that even though they are miles apart, they are still connected by love.