Circles

A baby’s immediate circle

Of mommy and daddy expands 

As he grows and his parents entrust him

To others’ responsible hands.

Then in playgroups or daycare or classes,

His once tight little circle makes space

For his earliest friends and instructors,

Each displaying a welcoming face.

Years will fly and the circles get bigger,

Overlapping as interests are found,

With the first circle members ensuring

That he’ll keep his two feet on the ground.

School years somehow morph into adulthood,

With new circles of jobs and romance,

Which invite both new colleagues and lovers

To come join in the circles and dance.

Soon new families form and more circles

Beckon other new parents as friends 

And what happens to earlier circles

Is that sometimes, the overlap ends.

Circumstances may sever a segment,

Such as change of location or views,

Which may cause a once-widening circle

To shed members they’d just as soon lose.

Time will march and will bring with it aging,

With its own set of issues and rules 

And the circles will shrink and will tighten,

Some denying and acting like fools.

At the end, just the tiniest circle,

Like the newborn’s, will likely remain

And those lucky enough get to share it

With no need to bemoan or explain.