Commencement

In a commencement speech
Wisdom, father shares
That from time to time
In the coming years…

I hope that you will be
Treated with unfairness
So you’ll come to know
The value of justice

I hope that you’ll suffer
Some betrayal to see
To teach the importance
Of loyalty

I hope you’ll be lonely
For a time or two
So you’ll appreciate
Your friends true value

I wish you some bad luck
So you’ll understand
Not all is deserved
No matter the plan

And when you lose the race
A boaster to know
So when it’s your turn
True sportsmanship show

I hope you’ll be ignored
To grow a listening ear
Have just enough pain
For compassion to share

Whether I wish them or not
Still they will be
I pray that you’ll learn
And their message you’ll see

(based upon the speech that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the commencement address at his son’s ninth-grade graduation in June 2017)