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