Gifted

His flighted arrival from afar
on his mother's 73rd birthday
the best of all conceivable gifts.
They've a treasure-chest of memories
of their children's growing
awareness into adulthood;
separation to independence.

Mementos of their youngest child
reveal small, child-made booklets
carefully folded into pages;
block letters describing the
biological world of birds,
fish, insects and animals. Along
with rhyming poems, puns and
attestations of devotion.

How like the later adult all
these bits and pieces of tender
recovery. His is the mature
intelligence of the educated adult
absorbed in scientific pursuit
and mentoring of graduate students.
But he is yet and will always be
their youngest, gifted child.