As he walks away,

the unknown grows inside me,

a tightness inside my chest.

His graduation is a forced exhale and I

breathe in the flight to come.

It was an illusion that he was ever mine,

from the start. He never belonged to me.

I was always ever the warm nest

from which he would someday fly.

 Alicia Grimshaw

Dedicated to all of the parents of graduates.  Yes, part of your heart is stepping out into the world to touch the lives of others. Let it go. Part of it will stay with you forever. What a privilege to experience this amazing journey of expanding love. Congratulations.