On Becoming A Man

We let our son go today,

He is around the corner from becoming a man,

It was his decision and we agreed,

That this would be the first step of his finding his way.

He wanted to do something that was bigger than himself,

He was convinced that his crossing needed to be huge,

In order to really feel like he had made the break,

From the all encompassing family and high school centrifuge.

He packed up his active life in just two bags,

He touched bases with people that he cared the most about,

Then with little trepidation but busting emotion,

Flew off to unknown lands with nary a sign of doubt.

To the lands of Bolivians his long trek will lead,

Where the lack of worldly goods is made up with a richness of smiles,

A mostly simple and blissful country of unmindful people, indeed, Surrounded by unyielding natural wonders which reach for miles and miles.

His intention for setting out on this incredibly faraway odyssey,

May seem an unnecessary invasion of a contented community on the surface,

But really is a humble act of magnamity,

A welfarism with a well thought out purpose.

To attempt to educate this blissfully ignorant culture,

About invisible threats to their lives and health,

Is an awesome responsibility for anybody,

Especially when their simple way of life is their wealth.

To sincerely build bridges of cross cultural understanding,

Across diverse worlds as best as he can,

Will help deepen his own personal understanding,

Of how best to become the right kind of man