DILEMMAS
Woe to hard working parents
Who struggled in the lean years
To provide corn dogs and swing sets
That seemingly cost a pittance
But stretched their budgets too thin
Woe to aging parents
Left alone in the name of independence
Rough and tough individuals
Too proud to raise their lonely voices
For their children to hear
Woe to their offspring
With lives of their own
Blind to the loneliness
That engulfs the aging parent
Wondering what has been left undone
Restrained by the self-love of children
Afraid to face the realities
Of loneliness, aging, death
Woe is me who followed the call to serve
In a strange new land
Transversed unknown waters
To find a culture of love and caring
That treasures the elderly
Counts blessings in caring for matua tausi
Alas! Unable to instill values now mine
In the hearts of my own siblings
I flounder
Blessed are the elderly in traditional societies
Wrapped securely in blankets of communal care
Embraced warmly in the hearts and homes
Of family who prioritize their care
Above all
Sons, daughters, granddaughters, nieces
Lift the veil of loneliness
Pledge companionship and care
Never leave the elderly alone
Blessed too are the caregivers
Where ever they may be
Pulled away from lives of their own
By responsibilities of a higher kind
Companions, confidantes, and friends
Who hear the same stories time after time
Answer the same questions over and over
Soothe bodies, minds, and spirits
Of those who await their final call home