When I was younger,  
Mother used to buy me balloons  
Red, orange, blue and green 
Every colour and every sheen  
 
With them I would play 
Held them in my hands until they  
Floated away  
Through my fingertips, they rose  
Slowly, slowly… 
I froze.  
 
No, that can’t be, I would yell  
“Mummy! The balloon, help!”  
We would jump and chase,  
Frantic, as we raced.  
But to no avail 
In the sunlight, it idly sailed  
And disappeared.  
 
We watched,  
Head down, my heart hurt  
Mother put an arm around me  
“It’s okay,  
Sometimes things don’t go your way 
They rise and rise and fly away  
But smile because you’re here and  
I’ll stay.”  
 
Now, I am older,  
Everyone’s dressed, it’s graduation day.  
Red, orange, blue, green  
Every colour and every sheen.  
 
With each face, I used to play 
Run wild, laugh, and - 
It’s graduation day.  
I held them in my arms, 
One long, last embrace.  
Then they rose from their chairs  
Slowly, slowly… 
I froze.  
 
No, that can’t be.  
They turned their backs on me.  
Walking on without looking back  
Their diamond destiny. 
I would run and chase and jump and wait  
But I was chasing ghosts 
Ghosts that faded in the sunlight  
And disappeared.  
 
I watched,  
Head down, my heart hurt 
Something rubbed against my neck -  
A graduation balloon 
It seems to be putting an arm around me 
“It’s okay,  
Sometimes things don’t go your way 
They rise and rise and fly away  
But smile because you’re here and  
I’ll stay.”