Farewells

It takes time To grow. When I was little All the world was above me And the other children Still stuck at my level Wanted nothing but to reach The top. No matter who and where They all wanted the same "I want to grow up!" They said, "I'm all grown up! Can't you tell? I can tie my shoes And when I sit My feet Almost reach the ground I have already lost a tooth And I Am a big kid Now." I liked my highchair. I liked to sit at the counter The stool bringing me Miles above the floor Above the world And I would eat Kix cereal Out of a little plastic bowl And wherever I went I carried a lunchbox That sprawled with pictures Of Care Bears and Rainbows. I liked that my daddy Could swing me through the air Up to rest on his shoulder And I would sit At the highest spot In planet Earth. I remember the first time I baked a pie And they all said it was Delicious And I was seven But I did a good job And they'd give me a pat And give me a kiss And I knew That I Was right. Not even middle school Changed my mind Though the girls wore lipstick And the boys played football I still insisted That this was the place to be I didn't care about growing up I didn't want people to think I was mature Because I knew that now Would pass too soon And tomorrow Could wait its turn. Now I sit At the gate of my childhood A small respite Before the rest of my life And I can see the sorrow that lies beyond The things which I always Knew were there Yet this too Holds promise A book A family A life A job There is much happiness In store. But I am grateful For this moment before This last year That has been given to me In eight months I have been left just a little more time To grow And I know it's greedy And I know it's unfair But I wish God would give me Just a little more.