Mid Life

It's hard to keep distinction twixt the boyhood and the man
When back and forth he flips – I try to follow best I can.
One moment he's a munchkin playing with his games and toys,
The next he's soaring head and shoulders far beyond the boys.

I swerve in traffic stunned by questions flowing from his mind,
And realize just by their asking, scope’s increased in kind.
And yet there's fun and laughter, joking round, and playful pranks;
E’en while my little boy leaves tiny soldiers – joins the ranks.

Society around puts value high on adult time –
A while that is, until perceived as old, then shifts to blind.
Truth is, there always is a reason in society
To shift aside all other people leaving only ‘me’.

The game kids play is ‘King of Mountain’– standing to be last –
To hold the fort on top of piles of snow and hold it fast.
The game reflects the life that's lived out by the adults here
And puts the issue squarely – “how can I this boy now rear?”

For boys aren't raised in vacuums, present context plays a role,
Their peers in school, and media, leave imprint on their soul.
Their inner and their outer life – in tension both remain;
The goal? To help him enter life himself, with laughter, sane.

This child of yours, O Father, you've entrusted to our care,
Like other boys throughout all time who now sport facial hair,
Is moving into adulthood with confidence and fright
As we, as adults, hold our breath and hope he comes out right.

I saw a flock of geese take off for warmer climes today,
Mixed in with old are younger ones who honk, and beat, and sway.
That fellow on the news said, “One thing on this continent –
We raise kids fast, to take their place as senders and sent –

We give them tasks in adult life to do beyond their years,
Expect them to rise up and do their duty without tears.
In politics, and business, military, civic life,
We're led by young folks in this land through quiet times and strife.

It has its downside – lack of wisdom, spirits immature;
But energy it captures, forthright action, steps so sure.”
We have some things like this to fix, but this quite clear I see:
Our kids can early take their turn as lead goose in the ‘Vee’.

Now as I look back at myself with clipboard under arm,
They let me organize events to keep my peers from harm.
I rose up to the task, and thank the people on my route
Who let me find myself and what my life was all about.

One problem with our system is that feedback stops for all –
From thirty-seven to fifty-three we’re seen as being tall,
Not needing to be brought along, quite competent at last –
So need new ways to navigate, and need to find them fast.

Hey, maybe that's what I can build into this son of mine –
The inner guidance system he will need just down the line;
A way of getting feedback not dependent on the rest,
That lets him produce output that will stand up to the test –

Which doesn't wait for others who throw carrots to entice
But pushes on for decades even if folks are not nice.
So he will end his days well-rounded – living life his way
And helping younger geese to join the ‘Vee’ and lead the way.

I wonder how I best could give that gift unto my son,
And help prepare him for a later stage of life he'll run?
I know, I'll give example, story live for him to see,
How later life can be sublime e’en after fifty-three.

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