Part Two

Another day:
the flames keep feeding off the fire
from which they arose,
the flames feed off of the one small spark
which gave them life
& the unflinching confidence to burn
vehemently.

Only some time ago
I thought that this fire had gone out
for good. If this
wasn't enough bad news,
I thought that my love, my desire
just to keep this fire aflame
had been lost, never again
to be regained.

But no more.
As anyone worth their salt knows,
there is always hope:
it was the one small spark
which I needed to bring back
this fire & the flames
I felt I almost lost forever.

Hope was the one small spark
I couldn't have done without:
when my will to stay the course
had almost dwindled to nothing,
when my will to fight
the good fight was seen
as nothing more than a
distant dream,
hope stepped in
to give me renewed purpose,
renewed faith to take on anything.

Now look at this fire:
the flames are still feeding off the
one small spark
which gave them the power
to keep on unimpeded;
these flames will go on burning
but now
with more heartfelt commitment
than ever.

Folk Tale

One story is being shared,
one cheer is being chanted out,
one song is being sung
as we speak

but each subsequent time
this tale is being told,
these esoteric songs are being sung
a new interpretation emerges,
a new cast of characters
makes its appearance.

Still the theme remains unshaken:
it tells of love, of friendship,
of joy, of a lifelong commitment
which to this day
remains unsurpassable.

Truth is,
only a select bunch
know the whole story by heart
& only a select bunch
can sing these songs connected to
this story by heart
as well.

But when
we hear this beautiful music
for ourselves
if only for the first time
its echoes leave a mark
which cannot be denied,

as this tale tells us
of love, of joy, of friendship,
one bond & singleness of heart
which to this day
remain unshaken.

Credo

Never forget
where you came from,
some will say
with pure sincerity;
never forget
these letters
which you wear boldly
on your sleeve.

Never forget
who you're truly
representing
even now,
even though you're
out there
in the real world.

Never forget
your roots,
what made you
the person you are
& never forget
what drew you here
in the first place.

Never forget
who gave you the strength
to make it this far
& never forget
how you earned this strength:

your arrival to this plateau
of life
didn't happen out of the blue
& neither did the chance
to wear these letters with pride,
with all your heart
as long as you live.

Never forget
where you came from,
I hear them saying;
never forget
the very things
which made you
all that you are now.

This & That

These letters
aren't strong enough to hold you,
some have said;
they'll let you go
if you choose not to
remain unswerving
in your love for her.

And these letters
which you wear boldly
as you walk in lockstep
to class -
they're not enough
to articulate with clarity
just how much you value
the love of your life.

With loyalty like
none other,
a loyalty which cannot be surpassed:
these letters were meant to be
displayed for a lifetime,
not when the occasion presents itself.

These letters weren't meant to be
thrown on & off like a dirty shirt
nor were they meant to be worn
out of convenience:
because once you've got them,
you're representing those letters for life.

Just know this much
because what I've been saying is true:
these letters will pass you by
if you choose not to
wear them faithfully,
with heartfelt dedication,
supportively at all times.

These letters
will let you go if your love for her
is all for show,
all a front you managed to put on.

First Break

Looking out the window
one sees,
one senses how much times
around here have changed
since the last visit:

new paint on the walls, new carpet
& with it new tiles on the floor...
oh, if only they could see
from outside these walls
just how much
a life can change
after one or two years leave.

To some, I am a fresh face,
a newcomer on the scene -
who am I? where am I from?
Still others, though they know
my name & have heard
about my accomplishments,
remain in wonderment
as if they haven't heard
the whole story about me so far.
"How are you faring?"

Others see my face
& in an instant the whole room
lights up (if only for a short while):
they take what time they can spare
& it's just like old times all over again -
we're talking about not only
the glory days I know too well
but also the here & now;
I've still got lots of catching up
to do, it seems.

When all is said & done,
my departure will not be made in haste;
my exit will not be done with fanfare either.
I will say my piece humbly,
knowing that this meeting
after such a lenghty hiatus
was worth everyone's time
& not just mine alone.

Looking out the window
once more one sees,
one knows that a beacon light
always is shining with each of us
& it refuses to be snuffed out.
I am one of those beacon lights,
leading the way when all seems lost,
in an otherwise dark time.
And for that my arrival -
the very premise for why
I returned to this room -
can never be discounted.