Quite a pair

A friend of about 40 years died this week. I have known his entire family most of my life. He was 42. I wrote this for his mom, in memory of him ...

Quite A Pair

It was a long time ago and yesterday,
you came into my life crying and cooing;
Eventually, you were toddling, holding my hand as you went
we made quite the pair;
One day, right on time and way too soon,
you let go of my hand and made it to the chair without falling;

Time passed, trikes gave way to bikes,
training wheels held you up and saved your knees;
That dreaded day came and the training wheels were gone,
my hand on the seat as you pedaled along;
I let go of that seat and watched you ride ,
filled with sadness and swelling with parents pride;

I let go of your hand the day you started school,
and watched you ride away on that big yellow bus;
I let go of your hand when you walked across that stage,
and someone gave significant paper and a handshake of congratulations;

I let go of your hand when you took the hand of your wife,
and I watched, as Mom's do, as you started a brand new life;

Today, I will let go of your hand one more time
and you will walk a walk you must take alone,
but ... before you go,
there is something you need to know

I really didn't let go the day you made it to the chair;
I still held the seat the day you circled the yard;
I held you all the way to school, in that big yellow bus;
I walked across that stage with you, hand in hand,
We made quite a pair;
I did watch you take her hand in yours, but mine remained there too;
Even today, as you walk the final walk, on the path you chose
I will not let go of your hand;

Someday, we may walk, hand in hand,
down a street of purest gold,
and the angels will stop and smile,
because, we make quite a pair.

Ron Simpson Jr.
June 7, 2006

In Memory
Ricky Blevins