Thursday, May 19, 2016

On Graduation

I wrote this poem a few weeks before I graduated from high school in June, 1970. Today I am posting it in honor of my Nephews Allen Lowery and Shaun Rice, who will graduate from high school in just 2 weeks; and to my niece, Matilyn Stocks, who graduated from Old Dominion University last week.
On Graduation

©Linda Goodman, June 1970

They said, “There’s a cold, cruel world outside.
Please listen to us and try to abide by our rules. Stay Inside.”          

So we did.
And some met failure, and some knew success,
And some didn’t bother; they couldn’t care less.

And now the time’s come. We’ll be sheltered no more.
We’ll run to be free.
We’ll unbar all the doors.
And we’ll take our ideals,
And we’ll take our false gods
And try to work miracles where others have trod.

And we’ll say we want peace, yet we’ll follow the road
Where God is the plotter and Man is the mold.

And when we’ve worked hard and achieved to our best,  
And our souls have grown weary and ready for rest,    
Then we’ll remember these fast flying years   
With laughter and wonder and warmth and tears.





8 comments:

  1. Very nice Linda, and so true! DLR

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  2. Lovely! Congrats to the graduates.

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  3. Linda, this moved me greatly! So sweet and powerful that you are passing it forward..... to your h.s. grad relative. I loved imagining you as a 17/18 year old.... I graduated in '69 so were close in age.. and I can see myself. So many years and we've gained wisdom, but looks like you had a BIG LIFE VIEW at that young age. Made my day reading this.

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  4. Hope my comment came through using my url... I tried using wordpress, but I notice that on both your site and Laura Packer's it's not working as a way to post. If you do get TWO different comments, not counting this one, let me know. BRAVO. Fun to read your 1970 words!

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  5. I got one additional comment. I find it very hard to post on both blogger and wordpress blogs. When I first set it up, I could not even comment on my own blog. I have been trying to steer people to leave comments on my blog, but most either comment on FB or email. Can't say that I blame them. It's easier.

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