The Ancestry of an Idea

This is a scientific analysis 

About the all the times that life goes up 

And then crashes back down,

Just when you thought that the sky was up,

But the sky was the ocean and you fell in and drowned. 

It’s An Icarus complex,

'Cuz ever since you graduated from Velcro sneakers 

They told you to chase your dreams, 

That failure was optional but you couldn’t avoid it, 

So just just don’t ever fail, cuz there’s no way to enjoy it. 

The mountain was always too tall to hurdle, 

And to hike to the top was absurd for a kid in Velcro sneakers, 

So they told you the story about the hare and the turtle 

So you wouldn’t be sad about being picked last or even second,

'Cuz if you’re not first your last

And they laughed and laughed,

Not about how slow but about how fast. 

Take the pain, please,

Make it smaller 

And I’ll try harder 

To be stronger,

Wake my soul 

To become taller,

I’ll try my best,

That all I can offer. 

Then came the day, 

The day when you finally built up the courage to ask her to dinner,

Or a movie, or brunch or whatever, 

And she said yes -enthusiastically 

And your heart started beating so fast

And your vision was blurry and the moment stretched on forever, 

and never

Because by the time you got your education she had three kids 

And you were still alone with your high blood pressure  

Thanks, Gramps, for that.

Typical, 

The gravity knocked you down again, 

But don’t blame him, 

He’s just doing his job, 

Keeping our feet on the ground while the clouds massage 

our heads 

With a full lather and rinse 

And if you don’t mind repeating 

With another lather and rinse, 

But they pull too hard and you wince 

At the pain,

But they say that it makes you stronger 

At least, that’s what they said in the last prayer meeting. 

By the time you’re 78.7 years old 

And you can’t stand up straight and you’re feet are always cold,

You finally got the perspective you needed, 

You look back and see how life really treated you, 

It kicked you and punched you, 

Then offered a tissue,

To dry all the tears of joy,

If that’s really a thing, 

And you’ve concluded that it is. 

Because even though you only climbed half the mountains your mother expected,

Each valley was filled with lush meadows and rivers

And people that cared enough to help you back up

Because after all life takes away, if you just keep on walking, crawling or running, 

without exception she always delivers. 

Take the pain, please

Make it smaller 

I’ll try harder 

To be stronger 

Wake my soul, please

Help me conquer

I’ll try my best  

That's all I can offer