To the Graduates!

Hello and welcome to a graduation Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac by way of St. Paul. Today is May 23rd.

It's graduation season! While everyone's partying and celebrating in Wannaska, we're in the Twin Cities celebrating College Kid 2.0's who is graduating from the University of St. Thomas. I'm up to my elbows in assembling a potato salad before I get all dolled up for commencement, so I've prepared a poem for your enjoyment.

To the Graduates

A poem by Kim Hruba, with AI-assistance

The grand clock goes tick! And the grand clock goes tock!
You find yourself standing right here on the dock.
Graduation has found you, it’s arrived at your door,
And it does quite a lot—yes, two things, or more!

First, it checks your height and says, "Look how you’ve grown!
Look at all of the wonderful things that you've known!"
It throws up confetti and dances a jig,
To celebrate you for becoming so big.

But second—oh second!—it checks out the time,
Which marches right on with a rhythm and rhyme.
It ticks and it tocks and it gives you a shove,
Right out of the phase that you used to quite love!
The clock cares not if you want to sit still,
It pushes you regardless right up the next hill.

You’ve packed up your bags! You've stuffed them with care!
With the things that you learned (and some old underwear).
This packing was preparation you were supposed to have done,
And now you’re propelled toward the next phase of fun!

Ready or not, here you come to the gate!
Ready or not, time refuses to wait!
But if you're not ready, I'll tell you a trick:
It is totally fine if you don’t feel too slick.

For your legs, you will find, have a clever design,
They work on an autopilot which is quite fine!
A step is a step, and a step is quite good,
Even if it feels wobbly, as if made of wood.
Even if you feel shaky and unsteady and small,
A step is much better than no step at all!

So keep right on stepping! Don't worry, don't fret!
You will find both your feet, though they aren't there quite yet.
You'll find your left leg, then your right leg will follow,
You’ll find your new pace by afternoon-ish or tomorrow!
You will find your new gait, you will find your new ground,
And gradually you won’t feel so lost or so easily bound.

Until, then! One day! In the future somewhere,
You’ll look at yourself and you’ll gasp and you’ll stare!
For you will be captaining, guiding, and steering,
A ship of your own, while the onlookers are cheering!
With mastery, solid, and right on your course,
Commanding your vessel with marvelous force!

But when you are sailing that grand, stormy sea,
Don't forget to look up at the sky, wild and free.
Enjoy the great view! Take a look all around!
At the stars in the air and the waves making sound.
For life is a thing that is lovely and bright,
It is beautiful, promising, and full of delight!