our parents planted our tree
of life at the center
of their spinning
world
they whisper directly
into our hearts
& love us
forever
here & hereafter
they are the twinkle
in the brightness
of our eyes
& they live
in the radiance
of our smiles
they animate
our souls & the souls
of our children
their pride in us
lifts our shadows
in every moment
at every age
we can never run
away from them––
only towards them
in every direction
all our lives
the parents we honor
are the yin & the yang
of us––
they taught us to love
& obey––
they fed us
our daily bread––
& they did what they could
to clothe us
in happiness
they protected us
from harm
& pointed us
to the light
our mom & our dad
are human beings
wending their way
from dust to dust––
fluttering to earth
like autumn leaves
from spring to winter––
floating to an end
that is no ending
we embrace them
& they embrace us
in God’s resplendent
light
& this we do
lovingly
& forever