Get Real

For 50 years
I have lectured
On getting real in
An unreal world to
Those unaware of the
Dangers around them so
Secure they feel safe from
Ignorance rather than reality.
They are at play in the fields
Of the Lord expecting to be
Safe when unprepared to
Deal with life’s surprises.
Like new recruits who
Smile walking on a
Ridgeline, have no
Idea how to take
Cover, flush out
Danger from a
Distance, and
Have never
Felt fear
Hunger
Cold
Heat but
Not able to
Alleviate the
Inconvenience,
Not yet ruthless.
They are charming
Like grown children
But dangerous to any
Around them even self.
Innocence is only a virtue
If knowledge is superfluous,
I have tried to teach common
Sense to those whose planning
Horizon was too often the weekend.
Luckily humor saved me from going
Mad and them from shock as they
Caught on bit by bit to what is
Real around them, waking up
One by one getting real.
I tried not to use cold
Water to wake them
As humor worked
Better if they did
Wake up at all.
Some said
Thanks
But
Most
Reluctantly
Accepted the
Need to get real
About education,
Marriage, children,
Spouses, and life in
The thirteenth grade,
In college, or becoming
Seniors for the last time.
Not an easy lesson for
Anyone and a lesson
My sibs taught me
Over my first four
Years of life to
My benefit
For near
Twice
40
Years.
My sergeants
Were my two older
Sisters and my corporal’s
Guard my two younger sisters
And my brother whose calm
Patience with me clearly
Surpasses my weak
Understanding
Of human
Nature.
I told
My
Students
I knew almost
Nothing about
Almost everything
And never spoke
A truer word
Than that.