SPRING GRADUATION 1974

SPRING GRADUATION 1974

The swing of your hair,

of your dress, and the

shawl you crocheted,

quickly you turn

and flash that wondrous

smile for the camera.

A most beautiful Spring

evening, made more

beautiful by you.

Your mom and dad,

your little sister,

mouth adorned by

the frosting of a

Hostess treat,

arrive for this great

moment in your family,

the first to graduate

from college.

Well, I remember

Highway 10, our

table at Mr. Steak

festooned with

steak and lobster,

and conversations

about future plans

for life together.

Those evenings when

embraces were too

painful for your

arms sore from

practiced blood draws

and saline-filled

syringes in the

nervous hands of

the inexperienced

nursing students.

Well I remember

the long hours of

study, chemistry,

biology, formaldehyde

scented hands,

from the dissection

of cats and other

creatures. The

intense hours of

worried concentration,

three years of nursing

assistance, classwork,

practice leading to

the nursing boards,

your license and

now the smile

that lights up your face.

You stand upon

the dais, your flowered

dress whirling and

swirling about your

body, soon to be

draped by starch

white nurses linen.

Your dark long hair,

gracefully flowing

in the gentle breeze

will frame a white

nursing-pinned cap.

As you grasp

so delicately the

award for which

your worked so

hard, your hands

reach far into

the future and the

many lives that

will be healed

by your gentle

care and touch.

© 2015. The Book Of Ruth,  by Deacon Bob Wagner. All rights reserved.