Young Man

What will you do?
It is not vouchsafe
That you will not be President,
If you would but lose your Hispanic accent.

When your bike posse moves out,
Helmets in place,
To capture the day,
Do girls enter your dreams?

What are you thinking
Behind that young man’s face
Who adheres to the path
Ascribed by your seniors?

With emancipation a few tomorrows away,
Are you as excited as you seem?
Or are there countervailing wishes
That do not conform?

I’ve not met your potential before,
A prince in waiting
Who may find a road
Less traveled and more rewarding.

Surrounded by love,
In a family that honors
Possibility and promise,
Will you respond in kind?

May your smile reach your heart.
May your falls help you rise.
May you love what you do
And the people you do it with.