Today old friends came by
bringing a watermelon
sharing the tacos
that my wife set out
salsa and refried beans
topped with tomatoes
lettuce and the rest
they brought their son Rahsaan
a gentle man
taller than either parent
by at least a foot
and also Rufus
their lap dog
about the size
of our cat Ollie
Rufus barked a few times
Ollie held his ground
and all of us moved on
to better things

Rahsaan showed photos
of the custom knives
he'd made since he'd
embraced the blacksmith's craft
beautifully formed and finished
one could feel
the keenness of the blades
the artist's eye
for symmetry and style
he spoke of his new job
that has him moving
up to Portland
where he'll work
with children in the schools
helping them hone
computer skills

I found him so articulate
wise in the way
of young adults
whose eyes are open
to the world
my generation is leaving them
perhaps it was simply
a generous impulse
perhaps some subtle guilt
knowing he'd face
a future that I'm happy
to be missing
as the family left I offered him
a bicycle I hadn't taken out
for several years
a lightweight road bike
and was pleased
when he found a way
to fit it in their car