Sabine

Attention spans grew shorter with the advent of computers,
Big-screen TV’s, Nintendo Wii’s—the world was getting ruder!
Folks would Facebook on their iPhones while involved in conversation
With friends right there in person—common sense in devastation!
For, few people could read music, even fewer knew their flowers,
Until iHouse met a woman who was blessed with super powers!

She could fox-trot, tango, arabesque; her dancing was terrific,
She knew every name of every plant—both short and scientific.
She saved a fellow hiker from a spider’s deadly bite,
And organized a vocal group for every Monday night.
She could sing through “djip-djap-djonga,” with an almost-perfect pitch,
She knew when to act with kindness, but could also make the switch
To assertiveness, to make a point—while never being mean;
And who’s this brilliant woman? It’s my awesome friend, Sabine!

She loves purple, Harry Potter, dancing ballroom and ballet,
She made friends with all of iHouse within just a few short days!
Her r’aison d’etre is physics, and her ever-working brain
Can take on a Ph.D. program, with very little strain!
She speaks so many languages, I’m always losing count,
And when it comes to knowledge, she’s an ever-flowing fount!
Her maturity, and grace, and poise, is well beyond eighteen,
So on RAOK day, I have to say, I’m thrilled to have Sabine
As my worthy RAOK buddy, for it’s been a lovely week
Connecting with a person who is ever so unique.

I can’t tell you my identity; the iHouse Gods have spoken,
However, I can drop a hint, that’s miniscule and token:
The author of this poem is much closer than you think,
And also favours purple, but detests the colour pink.
And yet, I come from far away—a different hemisphere,
But my intellect is one with yours—now, is that too unclear?
Besides my love of writing, music makes my spirit glow
In soul and heart. But let’s not start—I bet, by now, you know.
For, I can’t divulge this secret, ‘til the stroke of half-past nine,
At the dawn of Tuesday Supper, when on donuts, we will dine.
The suspense will be untangled, and the mystery revealed,
And although you’re still on tenterhooks, my lips are firmly sealed.

So, keep studying your physics, don’t forget to dance and sing,
And remember that, at iHouse, there’s a magic that you bring
In the voices of your singers; on the faces of your friends,
And with that happy sentiment, my RAOK verse must end.
So goodbye, my RAOK friend Sabine, I bid you fond farewell,
And whatever path you take in life, I know that you’ll excel.