we’ve been friends for over 40 years
at this gathering
following a recent loss
we came to realize
that between the four of us
we have but one surviving birth parent
making us close to all being orphans
we paid tribute
offered gratitude
to those who came before us
with all of their strengths and challenges
for had they not lived
there would be no us
nor our children
nor our grandchildren
nor those yet to come.
—
“the songs of our ancestors are also the songs of our children”
-phillip carr-gomm