There Was a Child Went Forth

There Was a Child Went Forth

There was a child went forth every day,

And the first object he look’d upon that object he became,

And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of day,

Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

Madeira became a part of this child,

With JK’s, and Penny’s, and Friendly’s, and Madeira Manner,

The “street gang,” with Sunday raking parties, and haunted houses,

And snow ball fights, and snowman competition, and hot cocoa to thaw them out,

Spring games of pickle, and capture the flag,

And nights chasing lightning bugs, and hide-and-go-seek,

And kick the can all became part of her.

Going to Destin became part of her,

The car ride, and the palm trees, and blazing white sand,

And late night games of Monopoly, and waking up to “Fiddler on the Roof,”

And “Burger” pancakes,

And going to the bowling alleys every night with girls that preach their beliefs,

And laying out in the hot sun,

And endless talking on the roof, and swimming in the shark infested ocean,

Ninety degree journeys with no real destination,

And taking care of a new baby all stays with her.

Her own parents, he that had father’d her and she that conceived her in her womb and birthed her,

They raised their girl along with another,

And the four of them became one.

The mother who makes cheese sandwiches,

And sits down to color and play, to end just in time for “Today’s Special,”

The father strong, and forceful, and short tempered,

The dry sense of humor that always made her laugh,

Then the older brother to give her advice,

And games of “bed slammer,” and secrets, and her latest karate moves tested on her,

And an old fashioned Grandma Burger always telling her new stories and remedies,

And Grandpa Burger’s famous tea, new languages, and ever lasting games of “500,”

And Grandma Rueter with 1,000 blouses, and fashionable, and superstitions,

And boyfriends coming and going, and true friends lasting forever in heart,

Slumber parties, and sneaking out, and renting movies,

Breaking light bulbs, and staying up to all hours of the night,

And going to breakfast BEFORE school, and rowdy pep rallies,

And challenging basketball games, and trying to cheer for the football team,

And hearing stories about you that YOU never even knew about,

And brother’s elaving after always being there, and luck car accident survivals,

Laughing, and crying, and sadness and joy,

These became part of that child who went forth every day, and who now goes, and will always go forth every day.