Ode to Jay

Once there were four, three brothers, one more,

When all were together there nearly was war.

The noise of these bros through colossal upheaval

Could only be called, Absolutely Primeval!

Cherished sister of brothers ref’d fairly each fracas,

Was determined to tame each brotherly raucous,

Yet all knew we were destined to end each day, by gosh’s,

By launching to air many pairs of our of our most sloppy galoshes.

One dark gloomy day, we all stood and stared, as Jay waved a goodbye,

And boarded the bus that carried him off to Saint Bastian High.

He’d left me ‘lone on my own to return to old school by Chase Bay.

Cast off to the whims of long legged teachers and bully McKay,

Jay was not there any day, anyway, to tell tyrant McKay to please, “go away!”

The eves were long too. Jay hiked the farm fields to gather in hay.

I would search the expanse, and who did I find? Not the brother I once knew

But a tease, a tormentor, defender, and mentor. Who knew Who!?

Mother told us from when we were all tiny tots, that school was essential,

That we had to work hard, not be a bard, better get some credentials,

To teach, build, trade, and design, or care for the blind,

You’ve so many choices, all of them fine, so you go where inclined.

As we understood more we knew life was bigger

Then the memories of yore when we often would bicker.

The years treated us fine, our future was bright,

Opportunities aplenty, we'd fly high as a kite.

We grew over the years and become more audacious,

Mocked the nonsense of youth, became tough and courageous,

Came to believe, “We’re too discriminating to be silly.”

We would pursue life far away from our neighbor friend Billy.

We’d all grown assured we could conquer this world,

No more hoodwinks of yore, we proudly unfurled

‘ccreditations we’d earned, expecting fame and acclaim,

From those that had shown they knew well, the game.

We were soon humbled by pros that were skilled and proficient,

They taught us the great tips that made us sufficient.

We perfected our skills and earned our provisions.

Then were able to nurture new youth with their visions.

The decades have passed, each winter seems longer,

Our walk is much slower. We sit and we ponder.

The antics of youth, past capers absurd, are fun to profess,

But we’re happy today, to have put them to rest.

We’ve no sins to confess, no shame from our past.

We honored our name, we stand tall and steadfast.

And we watch as the young folk create a glorious raucous.

They quarrel and yell, quiet only it seems, when they have streptococcus.