Boy to Man; From a Kid Next Door
At first, no more than lackluster transient thoughts
Life’s lines of which I cannot cipher, or at this point in my young life, read between
Winds, dispensed grudgingly, no longer a storm
To push me forward, despite indifferences shown
Unwilling to move, my determination of unknown consequence
Though resisting, forced to join the throng
Explanations from feckless masses always deceive
They manage to stifle, paying no heed to my bidding
Perhaps awkwardly, within the day and the night
My eighth year had gone
With bright eyes, joyous thoughts, smiles that were forever
It was then that I first sought direction,
those of apparent substance mused
It would never be, they so informed
Learn this, these learned teachers postured,
Only the most ordinary of people will belong
A driving force, longing to belong
Observing and studying
Mimicking what seemed to be a road to take
Always, as always
A breeze, a wind, a storm
Yet carrying me forward
Fostering me to lead them
Then hoisted upon uncomfortable shoulders
Above them, I was unceremoniously told I belonged
Without warning
In protest, I remained there
In tandem, their complaints resounded
“How come, him? He just got here!”
Strange when it first occurred
What was asked of me became done
All questions, research, inquires, labors of their loves
Became mine to reason, quench, resolve
They left me space following accomplishment
Only resentment was ever received
While they desired my help
They hated their need
They had become my unsolicited suppliants
Never finding merits within the masses
Time, like many sonnets, is forgotten
Helping fellows does bear an inward reward
With tears dried, and happiness stored
Never enough time allowed to sustain my reward
What I discovered was earned, not endowed
A breeze, even the wind will not suffice
It has been better for me to stand alone
Though raised to shoulder height
Welcoming each challenge, I will offer help
Accepting resentment as continual
Within the beginning of each day
Carrying forth, and becoming a blissful ending
Each evening
Dreams assuring a new breeze will come
Years have become many
More plentiful than a young man might have imagined
People by the thousands
Each experience added to my well
Now, seemingly too deep to ever go dry
No breath will be wasted
It will be lived as if never before
Each breeze will become a wind
And then a storm
Those helped, now assist with turmoils in store
No strangers come my way
I’ve seen them all yesterday
Turn life around then
Ready to begin again
Long since forgotten the adulation
How late in the game it may be
I’ll plan on getting through this one more storm
And remain a winning disciple
Of all the winners along my way
To those I’ve mentored
The number inestimable
Many enjoying the heights
They seem to smile during storms
Knowing a friendly breeze will return
Understanding a simple truth
No matter what you are told
Nor by whom
It may have been, to a little boy of eight
We’re all born to be strong
We all belong.
Smile today
Don’t wait for a vaccine in order to do so
da harv