Poetry

Thanking Enough

by Samuel Dumas 
09/18/19
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(excerpt from, “End Of Years”, by D’fils)

…and then I write his poem, thanking him for thanking enough…

It was 16 years ago; we were burying a youth named Clayton.  When the time came for eulogy and reflections, the old man, who had been sitting next to me, limped up to the mike and told his quivering voice-story about a grandmother who had passed. He told us in two minutes a lifetime of after-schools he had spent with her, and how he had thanked her many times for all her kindnesses while she was alive. He ended his reflection for us with: ‘I am sorry only that I did not thank you enough.’ And he sat back down next to me, and I looked over at him, unshamedly crying in wonderment of his words.

Even now I cry unshamedly for the many children I have loved who lived my learnings, and while grace lingered, took the time to thank me: because, for me, just one of their thank-you’s was always enough.

—Dumas fils