Particularly Sweet

                          I.
You want me to celebrate you?
In all you do, did, and might do.
The frustration with education
dissipates with graduation --
          your epic hard-fought battle.
Learning to read then reading to learn,
          look look,
you've come out ahead, on top of the norm.

                          II.
If at any time you believe love nurtures love,
today is the day, on graduation day.
From all those dinners and drama and jabber,
a person emerges that is believable
          and not likely repeatable.
Therefore today, today!  I applaud applaud this day.
Realizing the celebration is particularly sweet
when it is not my achievement
          but yours complete.

Artwork by Roy Lichtenstein
- mailed to Iowa this week - 
video on YouTube here...