Fare Thee Well

It's been a year unlike the years
We've ever known before;
Set adrift by changing tides -
Normal? - A distant shore.
The rules that filled our Saintly sails,
Temperamental winds at best,
Made ev'ry course correction hard,
Put our mettle to the test.
Still, you gripped the rigging tight,
Held fast with fortitude;
Adapted to the elements,
Youthful spirit thus imbued.
Exhausted from exertion,
Whether class or stage or court,
You've traversed the 7th sea
And found refuge in summer's port.

Somethings I hope you learned this year,
Nautical motif aside:
Integrity is paramount,
It works each time it's tried.
A perfect score is meaningless
If you've cheated, stolen, lied.
Reflection is a mighty tool
If honestly applied,
And giving up on oneself
Is opportunity denied.

Like Ponyboy, lean on your friends;
Make new ones, keep the old.
When life offers you Right or Wrong,
Have the courage to Stay Gold.
Should you stray (I hope you won't)
If things are nothing like you've dreamed,
Remember, even the worst of us - 
Ebenezer - was redeemed.
Find solace in the little things; 
The world is yours to form.
Leon showed us a better way:
Be grateful and forgiving and warm.
Jin learned self-acceptance,
Monkey King was born of stone.
When other mocked his righteous path,
Wong stayed the course - his own.
Ender's life was not his own;
He left comfort for cold space.
He suffered lies (and persevered)
But found purpose in their place.
Five genres of literature
With plots widely disparate;
From their themes and characters,
Wise treasures to inherit.

After this topsy-turvy year
May your summer be the best,
Filled with friends and family,
Sunshine, good books, and rest.
I offer you, one final time,
As English 7 is now done:
No matter where your future leads -
Work hard. Get better. Have fun.

- Mr Wilson, 2021