In honor of all the graduates around the world, I present this piece originally written in 2019 as part of my series of The Guardian Photo of the Day poems. I was never completely content with what I initially wrote, so I went back to the conclusion and tweaked things to better incorporate both the crucible and chrysalis images from the fourth line. The final line also better echoes the opening line. Congratulations to all the graduates of 2024 and especially to my own seniors, either in AP English Literature or Complex Communications! It’s been a joy to share this journey with you!
Graduation
by Vincent H. Anastasi 2019, 2024
The final bell tolls
farewell, hello.
Faces knowingly unknown
emerge from the crucible, the chrysalis,
to dance together, alone
beneath congratulations: a celebration.
Stoic confidence leads each quiescent soul
through the steps of this metamorphosis,
wings expanding, drying, all in proper time.
The forge’s fires cooled,
they fill life’s carillon
with peals of their tintinnabulation!
the deepening ground 
Leave a comment