To T

You were-even before you were born-

Full of wild energy.

Your mother

Despaired at that energy

Even as I stood off

And laughed.

In your youth

You channelled

That Wildness

Into your music

That I did not understand 

And loathed.

You worked,

You sweated, 

For me,

For the family.

Work was a release,

An affirmation,

A curse to be cursed.

You came to hate work

And, me.

And, in your adulthood 

With the help of your friend, your dear companion,

You found a channel for your wild energy.

You worked,

You forced that wildness, that energy

Into books,

Into math and science,

And,

ART.

In art you found your way

And began the path you yourself chose.

You hewed a way, so your own, 

And so unlike mine

(Or anyone else’s).

You found your way

And produced 

Strange, wonderful, and

Beautiful things.

And, so…

You have arrived 

Without finally arriving 

To the beginning

Of your life,

Your art,

Your purpose.

You have

Achieved,

Are achieving,

Shall achieve.

I am proud.

I am astonished.

I am full of a deep peace

And gratefulness.

Enjoy.

Rejoice.

And give quiet thanks

For the Wonder

You have become.