M i c h a e l
You’ve come so far…

Michael,
Did you ever dream of seeing the ocean?
Of seeing the vast, vast sea
Changing colors before your eyes;
Your eyes…
They well up with tears
And you are a boy
Once more.
Five years old
Already too old
For one so young;
Caged in a concrete jungle
And at night
In metal bars.
Cold, so cold,
An empty stomach,
Empty for days;
Eyes sunk in hollow sockets
Dry mouth
Lips cracked
Clipped wings
Though still you sing
Somewhere… somewhere…
Not here nor there,
You’re somewhere,
Somewhere…
Now in this forest
Of giant pines
Of cedar and firs,
The ancient, mighty trees
Stand witness above the ocean,
They stand witness
To Life!
One twisted tree,
A flaming red madrone,
Its smooth, smooth bark
Bent toward the sea
Listening, listening
For LIFE —
Bent toward the light,
Bent toward the sun.
And then…
And then…
Ah, there it is!
Now you see…
Now you see…
H O P E !
Terrible and mighty and fierce,
Aiming
For the light and the sun and the sea,
Aiming
To break free.
F r e e …
Michael,
Now here you are,
Your aim fulfilled —
You didn’t know it then,
You didn’t know…
One day you’d see
The Ocean.

