The Parade Just for Me
Bunting to my left
to my right
and behind me.
Center seat to watch
the passing parade
to celebrate me.
Leading the colors,
carried by WWII Marine Veterans
chests full of South Pacific battle ribbons.
Followed by the VFW
of yester years
with ranks sparse.
A New Orleans Jazz band
with Old Satchmo
and Diz soloing St James Infirmary.
Regal horses with Bronze heroes
of my youth,
Kit and Wayne.
Vintage cars putting along
Tin Lizzies, 12 in line ’32 Pontiac
and a like new 39 Packard.
The Cal Alumni band, properly uniformed
playing Souza
with serious talent.
And then the graduating classes
from years ago
marching forward behind logos of graduation year.
Numbers increase with each year,
sign captioning a banner year
and with ever improving gait.
Finally it is my year
that marches into view
and I join in my parade.
For by the nature of things
we all have our parade to watch pass
until we have to join
and pass the stand.
Doug Minnis
February 20, 2011