A Little Boy Named Brazos

A Little Boy Named Brazos I once knew a kid named Brazos, [I think it was me]; He lived  a life solitary, not calling on you and thee. He was shy, silent, and lonely; but he liked it that way; He found that better than dealing with others who had something to say. But though he was good, there were some who misunderstood, They took his silence as a sign of a bad mood, And they felt threatened by his physical possessions; For he was quite large, and didn’t feel he had to answer any questions. They were scared of him, the general populace, you see, Although he never gave them any reason to be; He loved everyone, but no one knew it, Restricted and constricted, he couldn’t say a bit. Unable to express his feelings, and uncomfortable with others, Too shy to show himself, he struggled with even his brothers; For they had the knack, of being socially acceptable; But they dragged him along, for in a fight he was virtually unbeatable. They would carry him around, in the cars they owned, And display him to people who were stoned; And say, “Here’s Brazos, he will knock you into next week”; And a lot would turn, and some would run, for pain they did not seek. But the challenge was oft taken, and there would be fights, And a big guy named Brazos would have you in his sights; Here is the score, put it down in your lore, he lost not one single bout, There be scars on his hands, but not on his face, and that’s what it’s all about. But then he left high school, a graduate, he was no fool; And went into a world, a real, real world, and thought it quite cool; No longer a player in a small universe, he entered the world all wide, And found there were others just like him, a-taking life in their stride. And so he loosened up, and became more relaxed, And lived his life with feelings untaxed; And he fought no more for the “leaders” chore; For when you tend your own life, you are nobody’s whore. Many years later, life’s even greater, he has no one to bend to; He’s gotten rid of “B” and become an “A”, and now will talk to you; He slowly found out, that the secret of the battle, Is to be calm and never show a rattle. So, now he lives, and now he plays, mostly on his own terms; He still loves everybody, but now he gets returns; For now he’s learned how to express his feelings, And to cope with others in their dealings; So, is this a story of youth unabated, or a story of eldest learns? Or perhaps a story of eld unabated, and a story of youthful yearns. Or is it perhaps what the young Brazos always wanted, And could I be, what I wanted to be, in  my youth, forever daunted. I realize now, what my problem was then, I was afraid to show my love; People looked at me, and saw a hawk, but what I really was, was a dove. My exterior promised a fistful of hate and injury, While my inside was a plateful of insight and inquiry. But now I know what rules, I am no longer a fool; And if you talk to those who know they say “I’m cool”; Once an embarrassed kid, I’m now number #1, And, you know, this is a lot more fun. So, hang on and watch me, no telling how long I’ll go on, Older  and better, might be a trendsetter, before I am gone; I’ve still got ideas, want to make other people see them, For they might appreciate what I say in my hymn. So, kiss me now, and kiss me fast; for I am ripening on the vine, What’s here today may be gone tomorrow, toast me with a glass of wine; Luck be with me, I  may out live you, although that’s not what I want; To be the last to die, means you have more to cry, it’s not something to flaunt. Written June 9th, 2001 © on Jun 12 2001 02:10 PM PST, Brazos Mason   0 • 10 • 1