The ambition

realised and a certain

hope fulfilled,

thirty years since it first took root,

buried deep and sometimes neglected

by outside forces,

I opened my mouth to talk

and where the dream at this

juncture

might turn sour,

dry and unresponsive,

a fool and an idiot,

I instead at least looked you all in the eyes,

Ghosts of mine

and friends

and I delivered.

Ian D. Hall 2016