Philosophical Spirit

Dear child who I remember when you had that pacifier hanging from your mouth like a Frenchman's cigarette, Today you will leave this nest I built with pieces of scrap money and Santa paper, brilliant ribbons of words trilled to you in child songs, and sticks of wisdom layed softly so as not to poke you with their jagged ends. As you start this new adventure and begin your path of higher education, I remember your other starts, some full throttle and some hesitating.  Your first steps on chubby little legs, your first whisper of my name, your first crush and your first heartbreak, your first failure, and your first triumph. I remember "bad arm days", and frowning tea parties.  In my memory I still see your tears as you watched the Little Mermaid sink to her untimely death, and the ...