The Age of Innocence

No more little playgrounds to play on,

I'm a big girl now,

At the crack of dawn,

I'm up and learning who, what, when, where, why, and how.

No more silly jokes for me,

I lost my childhood the more that I learned,

It's a good thing, can't you see?

It's okay after all I've earned.

It was just a feeling,

That I was no longer a kid,

That thought, it left me reeling,

I sat and cried and hid.

It was the first day of my new life,

When I'd learn what I'd have to do,

All the trouble and the strife,

Oh, I knew, I knew, I knew.

My first significantly bad time,

I felt so much scrutiny,

There was no reason or rhyme,

To all this crazy lunacy.

When I was confronted with pain,

When I had my first fight,

I thought I had my adversary slain,

But it was I who truly lost the light.

Look back on the past,

Smile at it slightly,

It doesn't and will never last,

Let the good shine through brightly.

Be as kind as you can,

Don't be a bad friend,

You can be a better (wo)man,

Just please, be yourself; don't pretend.