Student Publishing Program ::

Patrick Chen

Hybrid Feeling

My friend and I arrive at a nearby airport.
All my life I have strived for this moment.
It was once a dream that felt so far away from the cruelty of reality
As I take one last glimpse of the town I was raised in.

It is just now I realize nothing can last forever.
For a new horizon is waiting for an old one to fade away.
Suddenly a warm gentle breeze sweeps my worries away.
The feeling is overwhelming as tears are left on the familiar grounds.

With nothing to lose, it’s just my friend and I.
As we find our seats on the plane, I realize I have no intention of coming back.
With diminutive support and modest optimism from my father
I start to wish I could take one last glimpse of him before a final farewell.

I promised myself I would never forget this one moment.
But for some reason, I feel lost in a continuum without hope.
As I buckle my seatbelt and turn off my cell phone,
I question myself whether pursuing a dream is merely an escape from reality.

Closing my eyes, I feel certain I am not leaving reality.
My mind and heart are now focused on my final destination.
Even so, I want to believe I’m only partway through my goals

So I can feel this hybrid feeling once again.

[BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS, CLASS OF 2008 EDITION]