David to Aaliyah

(my soon to be baby cousin)

Well Aaliyah, I’ll tell you:

Life for me has been a retro video game.

It’s had its golden moments,

And it’s had its shooting stars,

But it never ceased to change,

Just level after level, world after world.

BORING.

Though all this time I’ve been raging after “game over,”

And smashing my controller,

And whacking the buttons with my sweaty fingers,

And pivoting the joystick around and around,

Where anger and furiosity take over.

So, baby cousin, don’t try to be like everyone else.

Don’t be a follower,

Because you can be a leader!

Don’t let others use intimidation to control your actions.

For I still have your back,

Just keep moving forward and commit to your actions,

Because I’ll tell you – life for me has been a retro video game.

Written by my grandson David in 2016.

This poem was written by my grandson David when he was 13 years old to his unborn cousin Aaliyah.

It seems that I may have a future author and poet in my family.

Oh by the way, Aaliyah means “high-born” or “exalted” and David means “beloved.” The names seem to fit.