Invaluable Advice

Dear Son, As you read this letter I believe you are fully fledged And perhaps you have already selected A straight soulmate among your flying flock I know my absence's had your heart brimming with rage May your rage wither as you turn over the pages That have witnessed your life stages And tirelessly waited for you for ages Here is my invaluable advice: To be a champion You must become a chameleon To adapt to this inconsistent world To be a loser You must turn a blind eye To your own weaknesses that make you so To achieve some goals You must turn into a rifle To reach the ever-shifting distant targets To win a marathon You have to take baby steps Then overwhelm your limitations To be successful You must learn from FAILURE What success will never teach you To be an influential leader You must be a loyal follower And become the change you wish to see To be a good father A son has to find in his father The true meaning of love and affection To be genius Is to perpetually practice with strong will To thoroughly master a skill To be educated You need no university credentials But knowledge to be put to use To be rich, The Richest Man in Babylon said, "Learn to live upon less than your earnings" To be wealthy, The Stoics say, "You must learn to limit your desires!" To take control of your time Brush off the 24-hour illusion Make use of the guaranteed 'NOW' To better understand life Never seek its sacred meaning farther Than in the preordained death To master this letter I beg you, my dear son, Mutate into a parrot and thank me later Your loving Dad, Clement Ahmed Chipande