Life Summary

Life Summary

This is the story of my life:
I sired a daughter and lost a wife
They happened twice.
Before is Prologue - a tale in itself.
After is Epilogue - I live by myself.

Oh, there were many other things
Jobs and adoptions and diamond rings,
Family and holidays and vacations,
Baptisms and confirmations,
Schools and books and graduations,
The flow of passing generations.

Hobbies and pets and activities
According to one's proclivities.
(I think we all took dancing classes.)
Doctors and dentists and reading glasses.

Friendships long and short and fleeting
From neighborhood, church, business meeting.
Songs and concerts, parties and plays
To comemmorate our passing days.

Cars and houses and rocking chairs,
Toys and games and teddy bears,
Movies, radio, television
With news of wars, atomic fission,
Leaders slain, lunar decision.

Outside new plantings had been made
Which grew until they gave us shade,
Birds, butterflies and bumble bees
With flowers blowing in the breeze.
Children playing, children swinging.
The ice cream truck is coming ringing.

I learned to accept it all:
The good, the bad, the large, the small
For life is made of such as this
A mixture of tragedy and bliss.

--Harlow B. Staley