Growing Pains
Dear Adults,
Do you remember the feeling of standing
two small steps away from
the myriad of doors--
each opening to a different hallway
--with "Your Future"
slathered in thick red paint across its frame?
And although you were
and still are
A dust speck sitting on the fabric of time and space,
you felt like Atlas
trying to choose the right door.
Do you remember the times
when a broken crayon
was your only source of
"stress"
And society had not yet
Molded you into believing
it is wrong
to color outside the lines?
Shoulders were just shoulders
and not the cause of misdirected
blame upon girls for being
"classroom distractions"
Boys could cry without being told
to "man up"
and get laughed at for showing emotions.
Do you remember falling in love...
and off a bike for the very first time?
A band aid could fix that scraped knee
But not all wounds heal so easily.
Do you remember being afraid
Of the imaginary monsters under your bed
And how quickly that fear dissipated
With a parent’s warm hug or soft assurance?
Yes, that was your biggest fear.
Not student loans
Or failure or being a disappointment.
Do you remember when you finally found yourself?
Piecing the past and the present together
From a pile of brokenness and mistakes,
Gathered wisdom and guidance,
Until you became whole.
Do you remember?
Sincerely,
The Youth