It’s not quite a few hours

Before the midnight bells,

Start of a new period of change,

Or opportunity to define lives.

I didn’t get a chance for ashes,

Going on a couple decades now,

But I’ll go for the fish fry,

Every Friday night I can.

I’ll still avoid any meat then,

Feeling too guilty to consume

Any reminder of what is shame,

Or the guilt I was taught as a child.

My life is a lot different now, 

No longer training my kids,

They’re young adults and busy,

Living their lives like I did my own.

I’m wondering about tomorrow

Now, got a couple of things to do.

Hoping maybe I walk away smiling,

Feeling like I’m doing the right thing.

It all matters to me that every day,

I can look like someone with a passion.

A desire to instill success in a kid,

The one that walks across a stage.

Yeah, I’m a leader of those actors,

Create illusions to represent our lives.