It isn’t done when they’ve grown,
wings spread wide and gathering wind,
soaring to new people and places and all the years ahead.

It isn’t a switch that turns off,
clocking-out,
calling it a day,
sitting back to retire from a job well done.

It isn’t an off-ramp, the curve taking you
away,
to some other destination.

It isn’t the end.
The journey hasn’t finished.

It is only the beautiful beginning to the second half of the ride.