To the boys who left home to find tomorrow,
Who faced their fears and wore the shadow of a man.
And now grow their needs on the soil of their hands:
May we live to see our harvest.

To the boys who caged pleasures and conquered fear.
By forcing their bodies into the angry sun,
And burn their skin daily for the love of their dream;
May we never be counted among men whose dreams followed to the grave.

To the boys who share a roof with sorrow,
Wake eachday with a stomach crying about yesterday
But still hatch the hope of better tomorrow:
May we see tomorrow come with the today we want.

(2020)
#too late to give up