you arrived midwinter
into the loving embrace
of young able parents
eager to nurture and
prepare you for a
hard edged world
filled with trepidation
and uncertainty

boasting citizenship
of two great nations
your honored presence
fearlessly extends
the lineage of proud  
ancient clans

you are a favorite son
hailing from two continents
and a beloved descendant
of two joyous families

your face is a monument,
perfectly chiseled,
expressing the
bold features of
resilient ancestors
rich in the history
of struggle, conquests,
sorrows and countless joys

your blue streaked
eyes reflect the
gleaming vistas
of timeless
ancestral journeys
guided by high ideals
and noble aspirations

your suckling lips
bespeak smiles
of happiness
born from the
achievement of
a successful birth
and the warm embrace
from the ***** of  
parental love

your blithe hair exudes
the fragrance of
melodious Irish poetry

your gifted hands
appear eager
to grasp the promise
of fine Bavarian
craftsmanship

your strong legs
limbered by
Scottish Highland trails
stand ready to conquer
the grandest Alpine peaks

your nose is filled
with the briny snort of
great expectations
European immigrants
inhaled during intrepid
Transatlantic passages
making a way to a New World
marking a family presence
that bestrides the expanse
of a great ocean

in your infant heart beats
with the possibilities
of our family’s
greatest aspirations
and fondest hope

within your DNA
stirs the passion of artists
the fortitude of workers
the faithfulness of farmers
the courage of warriors
the prayers of POWs
the casualties of war
survivors of great wars
reconstructors of
ravaged cities and
masters of industry

as you commence
your earthly walk
we pledge our
help, heart and hope
during your blessed sojourn

we offer up
holy hosannas
that your heart
may fill with a
thirst for truth,
beauty and love

may it overflow
with compassion
to serve humanity
and to stand firm
in the light of justice

may you always walk
as an upright man,
keen of vision,
eager to meet
challenges and seize
opportunity when it arises

may you create
a wholesome place
for yourself and others
by generously sharing
your presence and
the fruits of an
abundant life  

may your mind discern
the right course of action

may you find
reward for your labor
and honor a hard day's work

may your soul
seek to affirm
the Holy Spirit in
all that you do

may you champion love
through a lifelong commitment
to the things you love

may you find
trusted friendship
in the companionship
with animals

may you walk softly
upon the earth and
be a conscientious
steward of its
miraculous provision

may you appreciate the
beauty of art, experience the
freedom of dance,  be inspired
by the revelation of music,
find rejuvenation in athletics,
maintain physical health
and find a long active life
in clean living

may you attempt
difficult things
and be endowed with
intelligence, courage
and fortitude to
steadfastly meet
the challenges of life
and achieve
personal growth

may you receive solace
and garner strength from
a fathomless faith

may God’s
abiding grace
empower you to
perceive the
many miracles
each day richly
confers upon you

may you find
a soul mate
and trust in the
freedom and
beauty of love

may you too
be blessed
with children and
pass on the
good things you
were given by
your parents
and loved ones

may you experience
unconditional love
and unconditionally love

and please remember,
you are the miraculous
expression of a perfect love
may your perfection
light good pathways
throughout your life
as you find your way
in this imperfect world

with joy, reverence
love , hope  and
deep gratitude
we welcome you
our dearest
Theo

God’s Blessing
be always with you
godspeed

Theodore James McCallum
February 5, 2016
In Ardua Tendit

Music Selection:

Wane Shorter: Infant Eyes
Herbie Hancock: Speak Like a Child
Thad Jones: A Child is Born
Claude Debussy: Children's Corner

Pops
Oakland
2/9/16

In the cold of winter,
I find your soul greeting me like a warm hug from an old friend.
In the breeze of summer,
I feel your comforting smile watching over me.
On these days of peace,
these days of calmness,
I find you.

I find you in the rustle of the trees,
I find you in the heavy waves of the seas,
I see you in the colors of the sky at dusk,
just as bright and magnificent as I remember you being.
You are not gone.

I find you everywhere I look.
I find the moon hangs just like your tired, extravagant eyes.
I have found peace in your absence,
simply in remembering that your soul has lived to create a new star in the sky,
shining light into my dark days.
-k.p. 7.20.15-

It sat idle in the corner
Where its many caverns hosted the crumbs
Of burnt toast and brown copper coins;
It was his nest and,
Like the cuckoo, he returned day after day,
Year after year;
And it smelled of him- like ginger ale and oil,
Both of which he claimed could fix even the stiffest of joints
Yet he could hardly move after more than a glass;
The fabric's corners, rough and green, had torn in places,
Sticky and unpleasant to the untrained mind
But to him,
It was perfect.

After decades of sitting,
He left his dent
In the chair
And people felt uncomfortable
Even assuming his spot
For no one could compare to such a gentleman;
So we remembered
As it sat idle in the corner
Where its many caverns hosted the crumbs
Of burnt toast and brown copper coins
And the memory of what once was
An Extraordinary Man.

The months pass by
Like calendar pages flipping;
But as they move,
Some of them are ripping.

My heart grows more resilient
As the years fly;
But the grief isn't fading,
Just becoming a little shy.

The world that you provided
Was blissfully superior to this;
That world and you
I wholeheartedly miss.

Three years ago
Suddenly in the night,
A man I loved passed,
Time extinguished his light.

But I'm learning that
Although the candle blew out;
Sometimes when we delve back,
It flickers with no doubt.

He was a man who taught
Honesty and virtue;
Differentiated between things
You do and don't construe.

Be yourself always,
Believe you will succeed;
That is what he told me
In my times of need.

You can accomplish anything,
Be anyone that you
Dream.
If you approach life
Heading
Full steam.

His voice fades a little as the years go,
And I have no videos to
Remind myself to know.

But even as his voice lessens,
In my memory,
His words, whispered in love,
Will remain endlessly.