Lessons from a Kite

Squinting against the sun

I looked up at the sky,

A gentle breeze blew the clouds

Today my kite would fly.

Proudly I carried the roller and thread

A hop and a skip, there was Dad ahead,

A glance now and then at the colourful kite

A smile curving all the way upto my eyes.

Then at the meadow

Where the flowers grew wild,

And the birds chirped in bushes

At the restless little child.

I tugged at Dad's hands

That held the kite tight,

And my head bobbed up and down

In childish delight.

"Make my kite fly high, Dad!

Make it go up in the sky, Dad!

Hurry up Dad, there's a breeze blowing now,

Here's the roller Dad, just show me how!

Looking fondly down at the excited child

The kite with the thread to the roller he tied,

"Patience my child, have patience, my son,

This kite won't fly until I'm all done.

You don't wanna lose your kite

'fore it's halfway up the sky,

'tis the wind on which it's borne

But the roller guides it home.

How high it goes up in the sky

Is anybody's guess,

It all depends on whether 

You roll out more or less.

You must know when to pull in

And when to let it free,

Life's lesson, you know",

He winked up at me.

"And when the kite is up high

Then applause it must share,

It mustn't ever forget

'twas the wind that brought it there.

And be thankful ever too

To the strength of the thread,

That held it so secure

As it raced on up ahead".

My ears heard his words

But it didn't seem to matter,

My eyes on the kite

As I felt the wind lift 'er.

Up , up and away, as Dad spooled out the thread,

Up above the trees and over my head,

Gently he guided, pulling in, letting free,

Today the kite.....tomorrow me!

Now as I watch 

kites dancing in the skies, 

I think of all Dad taught me

Of his words so truly wise.

Thus a day out in the meadow

Life's lessons I had learned,

As I aim for the skies

Feet firmly on the ground

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