Once again.

I sing with elation
And jubilation
My mother birthed me...
What a creation.
She had no idea the person I would be
Both my father and her had to wait and see.

They educated me in more ways than school,
Travels, many countries a cosmopolitan pool...
Where people of all nations colour and creed
Into adolescence, my growth did lead.

I looked in... awed, inspired, inquisitive and daring
Among the shunned , the ignored, the rich and refugee, sharing...
THAT school, an imprint for life would be my inspiration,
No matter the classrooms the languages, the countries my parents and piers part of the figuration.

The crests and ebbs so high and so low,
The Imagination the dreams the desire for knowledge a constant flow,
No fear of reprise or criticism blinkered and blind...
But, rather sort be the courage and valiance of a different kind.

Quiet and in solitude to be my way,
My parents of the opinion I had gone astray. .
What was it that fired passionate and made my heart beat,
What was it that steered me against the crowd with no will like a sheep to bleet?

What was it that made me selfishly make my parents life hell???
What was it that rang, donged loud in my head like a binding spell...
The enchantment to succeed no matter the opinion of fickleness alive,
No matter the labels pinned by others contrived.

No matter the so called norm propaganda for the masses spewed,
Looking to segregate the critical thinkers named a pariah, subdued.
But in that silence to watch and hear
Among the many an identity gained without much ado or fear
To keep close to knowledge worldly and unbiased
And those bubbled and blinkered too, prized.

Dare I sneer and, at the same time go down on knee,
Dare I fight back and at the same time with the Almighty plea,
A resounding YeS with faith unwavering
For those who shall be at the end of the short stick flailing...

Whose life shall be nothing more than a dollar on arms spent,
or the target of social media bullying vent,
And when that societal hypocritical fickeness pricks deep
To put myself on the line, no price to pay too steep.

I was not the easiest youngling
Yet never felt wronged, ignored rather, an enabling...
By parents to spread my wings no matter cause or purpose, elevating,
To never forget to be humble in my confidence
And at the same time be me, without apology or pretense.

Another Birthday past in self reflection to smile,
nostalgia and new truths that need acknowledgement and not to deny.
To look forward to the next one and what the passing year me shall teach
Another epiphany,another level of humaneness to reach.

RB.



#########

And a poem written for my "first love "...my first grandchild and shall apply to all my grandchildren, no matter how many may follow...



The Child.

Close your eyes little one, a story i shall tell
My life quite long, experiences had and mistakes known quite well.

Try not to befriend those that walk around with blinkers
Be patient to hear the advise of those that are deep thinkers.

Never forget to be humble, compassionate and kind
For it is understanding and patience good people to each other bind.

Know you are unique and special in your own way
Yet knowledge is a necessity to grow from day to day.

Don't be cocky or arrogant and think you know it all
Rather step back listen, see, absorb and learn to play the ball.

And even though you will come across those who will be harsh and cruel
That's no reason to forget your upbringing, rather stay the shining jewel.

Your worth is not dictated by the ever changing whims of society
Your actions and words speak louder, they are your propriety.

So little one, grow up safe and strong and resilient
I have watched from a distance and already know...you will be brilliant.

RB.