When Roses Grow
he crossed
time
to sit in a stadium seat
and watch his daughter
walk
he saved a spot
for her mother, too
he always does
and like church
there was a sermon
there was singing
there was ceremony
fellowship and flowers
and it didn’t matter
if the Auburn Creed
or The Star-Spangled Banner
or all those names written on the program
were words
he could not say or sing or read
he stood when they stood
he listened when they listened
he laughed when they laughed
he clapped when they clapped
he sat down when they sat down
and he puffed with pride
as any American parent would
on the day
his daughter graduated
from college
TL