Writing Life

My grandson Spencer recently graduated from Casa Roble High School. To commemorate the occasion I wrote him a poem. It’s a little bit of grandfatherly advice in the form of a sonnet. I wanted to warn him about just how quickly life can pass by if you don’t seize every moment and make the most of it. A lot of people spend their youth daydreaming about the great things they’ll do in the future. Sadly, a lot of these same people will spend their old age regretting the things they didn’t do when they were young enough and strong enough and free enough to do them. That’s why I wanted to tell Spencer that NOW is the time to be brave and pursue his dreams. I don’t know how much good my poem will do him. I’m sure he’d have rather received a car or a flat-screen TV, but these days poetry is about all I can afford in the way of gifts. I have chosen to post the poem below so that it can mark not only the end of Spencer’s days in high school but also the beginning of this new blog of mine. Feel free to pass it along to any graduates you think might benefit from it.

SONNET FOR A GRANDSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
for Spencer

“Don’t wait.” That’s it. My advice in two words.
Our lives have three stages. “Too Soon” is the first.
Then come “Just Right” and “Too Late” (that’s the worst).
Three distinct ages, but not equal thirds.
“Too Soon” is our youth, and it’s usually slow.
The days last forever – or that’s how it seems,
With lots of spare hours for wandering and dreams.
“Too Late” is for working and worry and woe.

It’s the brief stage between these that I call “Just Right,”
The stage after braces, report cards, and recess,
And right before taxes, insurance, and job stress.
Use this stage wisely; go traveling light.
Take backroads, go off-road, be daring, be strong.
It’s shocking how quickly “Too Late” comes along.