For Dan— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
Where is the act of love to be placed
when we find our children are growing?
For each child must be weened
and that second weening…
they must do themselves
To experience the creation
of their independence
they must break the bonds
of their submissive respect
to the larger world without
And so, with their egos aflame,
they will scorch the earth
until they feel safe
to exist
in peace
There is not a correct act of love to give
other than that self same love
we’ve always felt
no, their challenge lies here
within us…
Not to reject them
because they push the buttons of our egos
Not to oppose them
because they must shed the dependence of the child
And Not to lecture them
in the arts of social dance
when they’ve just begun to stumble.
gallagher
11 August 84
for Danny
Archive for the ‘Dan’ Category
1984-08-11 For Dan
Saturday, August 11th, 19841984-08-11
Saturday, August 11th, 1984Most of my life is easy…distractions— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
friends, peers, equals, sounding boards
those I’m defining myself with
and against.
But it gets harder when we press against
those unlike us in years or spirit;
our teenagers and preschoolers
and those we have to work with.
And yet how much of my energy do I spend
on the easy ground
and how sparsely do I meditate
on my sons and their growth.
gallagher
11 aug 84
san juan capistrano
1985-11-27
Wednesday, November 27th, 1985I look at Dan’s picture…— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
he rises straight and strong
like a young tree;
full of the sap of life,
he laughs at the winds
and rain of life.
He has our love and the Lord’s,
and he has his dreams
and a world he’s born new into.
Strength and joy and optimism
in unbounded proportions
fill him.
gallagher
27 Nov 85