The Graduation

Since he was born, you have been praying for him.

This land is covered with your offerings;

in deserts, on mountains, in grasslands, aside lakes, under trees

sailing down rivers to tumble among the sea waves.

When this child crosses that threshold

you watch those wings unfold from his back

marvel at their majesty and grace, their size and depth

let their unfurled prismatic beauty lift the breath from your lungs.

You can see the feathers now

can pick out those that you yourself tended, and

even though you are now crying

can still admire how he has accented, added to, altered them

how he has tailored some with his own flourish

turned others to new angles to catch the light and create his own colors

how each of these improves the whole.

And you know, with certainty rooted deep in this earth, this land

that he will soar beyond your wildest dreams and

that the breaking that you feel is another world being born.

And you want to hold each precious memory of his childhood up to the light one more time, feel it again

be tenderly grateful for each second

as you release them

let the intertwining of love and loss that we are always living

dance across your chest and radiate forth into the unknown.