Afraid of deep waters
my mermaid mother swam
with strokes of Olympiad
to distant island of Dad.

Incomparable beauty
hers, unquestionable
authority his; we – a
monument, their legacy.

Me first, Eye sprung from wish
to see and know dark truth.
Born to joy consumed by pain
I looked, saw, looked back again.

Mine the role of Witness,
truth to tell, interpret,
speak things kept silent before.
Seeing, still I reach for more.

Next, a boy heard clear call
to being, so became
Ear of opportunity.
His point: listen, carefully,

and learn sure way to thrive
using rule, law of man.
He hears echo of a dream
and follows now golden stream.

Third, Nose for news sniffed, chased
story, order of things.
He seeks to connect cause and
effect, truth tower erect.

Body of evidence
breathed in deep, then exhaled
in inverted pyramids:
here’s when, where, and what who did.

Mother to us all, bathed
in grace, gentle goodness,
would you yet acknowledge these
three gifts sprung from balmy seas?

Father who made us, too,
see now what life hath wrought.
Let loose tight-fisted mandate,
set us free, emancipate

each one who with own strengths
shall lead, discover, go
boldly, weave our way despite
obstacles or lack of light.

Fear not depths nor steep height
for thus we make our way,
and as we go we carry
beauty and authority,

gift of generation
past. What will be our own
legacy? What will we share,
what might we venture, dare?