A Poem for Peter's Commencement

#BuiltDifferent

Pedro through-and-through
you came in to
this whale-of-a-town
not far down
Sixth street

Up to Alpha, sloping floor
a room with a crooked door¹
weird kitchen galley
right on the alley
built different

Immediately glad
that we had
not stopped at three
all agree
that “we went for four”

Somatically aware
with a wild flair
tuck and roll out of trouble
destined to be a stunt double?
built different

Amazed spectators from the stands
point and wave their hands
”who is that kid?”
uncontainably proud, I burst my lid
Speedy Pete—built different

Heard on field, pitch, at all the games
The well-loved child has many nicknames
Pepperoni, Peeps, Pepe, le pew,
Petroscavich, and that is only a few
built different

Nobody knows the trouble you’ve seen
If Providence slept, what might have been
tragedy in parking lot
Thank God Almighty, you were not shot
Built different

Or being launched off the 605
It is a miracle that you’re alive
One little scratch, the only sign
As if God drew an impenetrable line
and declared, “built different!”

Now a launch more exciting
An adventure God is writing
You enter a world that is shaking
with a Maker who loves making
things that are built different

Congratulations on a job really well done! Still rooting for you and we always will! No matter how far you go, you can’t go far from our love!

1. All the doors were crooked. The Alpha House was built different too.