GRASSHOPPER GROWS UP

Once when I was oh so young, a vizier came to me.

He first was coy, was but a boy, but said he’d set me free.

He stood by while I cried my fear, he let me show my ache;

And when I dared to act real brave, he’d give my hand a shake.

I grew up and went my way, but wondered who he was,

This vizier who cared for me and let me find my cause.

One day as I was feeling whole and pure and fine and proud,

I glanced into a mirror…exclaimed in awe aloud,

And waved at my now old vizier, who carried me through life;

And puzzled how he’d known that I could deal with all life’s strife.

This vizier boy, now vizier man, had known it all along,

Known that I would catch up, catch on, sing my own sweet song.

Now that I am oh so old, my vizier stays with me.

He lives within my mirror and waits there patiently,

Making faces when I’m sad, winking when I’m glad,

And seeing what I am and was—just a star-struck lad,

Wryly helping mark my time, slow to criticize,

And always looking straight at me through my own star-struck eyes

© 2009 A.D. Jim Reed