Two done, two to go!

four in a row 

Working in the same school where my kids are enrolled, i always believed that they are not growing up like any other normal kid. I've always wondered what it would have been like had my father been in school with me, always breathing on my back.

There are advantages and disadvantages, of course. One of the advantages is that they would never fear of losing their transportation fare. I always did when I was growing up. i would lose track of my expenditures and before I knew it, had to walk my way home. That was when I was in elementary school. During my high school days, I couldn't do that anymore as the school I was going to was very far from home. So, I learned to either borrow from classmates or take a cab and have my mother pay for it.

The disadvantage I can think of is that they do not learn how to be on their own. With me around, I'm sure they are cautious of the things they do in school as I will surely know what goes on everytime. Well, in fairness to myself, I knew this was the case and always tried to be out of their way. They always eat alone with their classmates, for example. I let them experience school on their own, in their own time. Should they need me, they know where to find me.


the proud parents with graduate boy 


white toga! a picture of innocence? 


It's now official! My son, Mickey has finally graduated from high school. This means he is practically out of my wings. Being with him everyday for thirteen years can never be a long time. As the old cliche goes: It's just like yesterday! when he first came with me to school. I remember his first day when I almost panicked because he was nowhere to be found, only to be relieved that he was up a tree. Or the time when I was furious during his Grade 7 days because his teacher complained that he was misbehaving in class.

He has matured a lot since then. Never received any violation reports. I always want to believe that he has always been a gentleman to his female friends just like we tell him to.

I have no doubts that he will be fine like his older sister. He is very independent. He knows how to commute and find his way using very minimal instructions. he even goes to the doctor alone armed only with his HMO card, joins art contests, without our knowledge, just for the experience of joining one. Decided to try to take a scholarship test of his chosen career (help us pray for this one, please) on his own. He'll do fine.

dinner time with lola 


Aside from the dinner treat we gave the family in a restaurant, my wife and I plan to give him a gift later, I do not have one that comes from me alone. However, here's a poem I wrote several months ago which I am dedicating to him on his graduation day. (That is the least a man of insufficient monetary endowments can do, hehe)

---------------------

Ode to Endings (or should it be "beginnings"?)

Never have I dreamt that it would stop
but even the deepest well runs dry
reams of bond paper are eventually used up
the longest journey ends with the last step.

Infinite numbers could not be counted
try hard if you must… end I know not where
but end it will, no matter what.
Who can count after a trillion

Or even a hundred million?

Strongest despots end their rule
either by them or for them;
whether a pound of flesh
or a trickle of blood have been spared--
if the dictatorship ends
out of a gnawing conscience
it, too, shall stop.

Even God’s emissary, the Pope dies.
Everything shall cease--
just like your breaking away
from what my house can offer,
leaving behind a limitless
protection that I so willingly give.

Yes, the time has come
for you to open your wings:
feel the gale and glide to where it will take you
open your eyes wide like I told you

crossing the street is not as easy as it looks.
There are roads without stoplights
even stoplights are being ignored..
Soon, my work is finally done
there’s nothing left to do
but watch you from afar.

rolly


PS.

My apologies to the two commenters on this poem, Transience and Jet for failing to respond to your gracious, and kind words. I never got to see the messages as I thought nobody reads my poetry blog much more leave a comment anyway. Thank you very much. It has always been an honor receiving feedback from writers I admire very much.