Maturity
I watched this kid out back grow up
From young pre-teen to adult pup,
From Ninja fighter facing foes
To skateboard trickster on his toes.From girls and boys brought home as friends,
High school days each school-year lends;
Like silent movie through the glass
Approaching launch in life at last.How quickly pass our days of youth
Quite blind, engaging, facing truth,
Deciding what we'll do, and when,
With who we choose to be as men.So often we get stuck in life,
Bogged down with details, options, strife;
Until some person helps us out,
And notes to us what we're about.So who am I from this time forth?
This kid who started life up north –
Don lived with us in training days,
First Nation’s man – affirmed my ways.Thus I was touched by Oxford House,
Not just Cross Lake small as a mouse,
But as a pre-teen fighting foes,
A skateboard trickster on my toes.“Young Love", that movie – he took me
Before he went his girl to see,
So I could say, “I've been there too”,
When I returned next day to school.He grew up too, we shared a room;
He teacher-trained, though moved out soon
To live with girl, he married got –
Our paths diverged – new paths we walked.He died this week, I heard from sis,
White life he lived, not family his;
Made out quite well in teaching trade;
Unknown to him, impact he made.My folks drew lines twixt ‘them’ and ‘us’
(Unknown back then TCK stuff);
But walls don't keep our impact in,
Especially when as kids we've been –Put side by side, we grow up thus
As friends, respectful, little fuss,
Until as adults touched by love,
Then shuffle on, then life above.I thank you, Lord, for Don and kids
Who grew up round us where we lived;
The impact neighbours have each day
Is silent witness on our way.God, bless his kin, who live without
His gentle presence round about;
I've been there – hard to say goodbye
When friends grow up, move far, then die.navigation