Graduation Day

for Jose, whose afro could never be contained by such a small cap

The wind
doesn’t care
about graduation
or ceremony.
It celebrates beginnings
by ripping music
off stands,
flipping modest women’s
flowery skirts,
lock by lock freeing
hair from clips and careful
spray, throwing
mortarboards
upon the earth.
Go ahead, pray—
but it is wind
that blows our kids
into the world.

2011