LAUNCH

[from last April, 2011] Wrapped up in my ego That’s wrapped up in him I watch the 18 year old. A most perfect rocket In between the Lab and space Crafted and invested With all the explosive creative genius I had to impart. A high octane cocktail for fuel = Nurture + Nature + Free Will + Sovereignty. Elegantly, and with an air of casual He stands out of reach on the launching pad. Close to the final countdown that will launch him into his future. Yet, despite his vitality And talent And intellect The engine at his core Won’t yet ignite. What gravity has kept him so weighted to the ground? Afraid to dream Or work for a dream? The tools I had to tinker with To fine tune or tweak Are proving useless now. So I put them aside and dig out the binoculars. Breathless, I watch. 4-3-2-1. Addendum May 2012: Thank God the engine has ignited! He's soaring. It's been a good first year on his own at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The binoculars are put away and have to use a telescope now. I asked Tyler for his permission to publish, here is his response: "Fore sure. I've been out of the house for a year. Long as it ain't naked pictures of me as a baby, you can put it out there. You can add in a prologue about caffeine and power bars being the fuel of a sputtering space craft as it tries to maintain an orbit of sanity staying up late working on college papers... But yeah, it's a good poem! It's fun to read now that it's not about the present me. - Ty" Launch #2: A School in Mississippi for Cameron Everyone loves this kid, but he really needs some extreme structure so I'm here to get #2 launched in USA @ Chamberlain-Hunt Academy in Port Gibson, MS (a few posts below tell the journey). Port Gibson, in Clairborne County, MS. Population: 9,000. Cameron is there for summer school during June. The fall term starts 13 August. Cadets marching to church on Sunday mornings. "The food is great! And my speech teacher is awesome."   --First letter home