John was our idol
The older brother we all wished we’d had
Always in good spirits
Reassuring smiles
Advised and protected
He would go far

I wanted to be him
In that small town he was the favourite son
The gorgeous girlfriend
The grades
The dazzling athlete we’d never seen
The expectations were set

We used to ponder where he’d fly to
In the schoolyard plans were laid
A celebrity?
A leader of men?
A millionaire?
Why not all three?

Yet something changed
Though the road ahead was clear
Potential was left to rot
And one summer at the factory turned into three
Then a decade
And we wondered why

The town murmured disappointment
Gossip of this failure ran rampant
Resolute, John was unmoved
Flashed that famous smile
And with a shrug and a shake of his cap
It was into the factory once again

Fifteen years ago he was my idol
And perhaps he is happy
But I see that smile has faded
His youth is leaving him
I no longer wonder why
And now pray I meet a better fate

Ezy Reading is out every week.