Isn’t it funny how Life passes you by?

At first, you think they’re a stranger

But as soon as you’re about to pass them

Life taps you on the shoulder and smiles

Like a long lost friend you remember

When Life jump scared you

And hugged you from behind

Or accidently slapped your back a little too hard

But you and Life were always good friends

Then you remember the times

When you never felt good enough

When you felt like you never fit in

When you felt like it was a crime to be you

When Life wasn’t there to hug you

Do you remember

When Life turned around

And kneeled to scoop you up

From the hole in the ground that you placed yourself in?

Do you remember what Life told you?

Why do you fly with all the other birds, child

When all they do is fly not knowing where they are going?

Your feathers caress the sky

They grace the white tufted clouds

And move with dignity, direction, purpose

You are stronger than you think, child

When all the others tell you to get down

You only rise up

Because you are not the “paki girl” that they called your mother

You are not the “coolie boy” that they called your father

You are your parent’s dream, child

And when the rest of the world tells you

To stay low and keep your head down

Your mother and your father tell you

Rise up daughter, rise up and reach for the stars

Fly so close and fly to only the places that we can dream about

Fly higher than we have ever touched

Fly without remorse

Fly with all your heart and our love

So rise up with me, child

Take my hand and

Let us climb up these trodden old stairs

And remember the others who

Started like you and soon flew away

To the heavens and farther than I even know