I don’t want to grow up. 

 I don’t want to stand out. 

I just want to stay ignorant. 

I’d rather unknowingly live without. 

It’s not easy transforming a boy into a man, 

Or a girl into a woman. 

But everyone must succumb to the passage of time, 

Even Peter Pan. 

Certain things in life force us to age, 

Force us to become aware and engage. 

Wake up! She said Wake up! 

Your sister is hungry, 

Your brother is stuck, 

Your father is sitting drunk in his truck. 

12 years old is old enough, 

To realize you got to grow up. 

I raised them as my own.  

I tucked them in at night. 

I told them they’d never be alone. 

I taught them to fight. 

I begged, 

I worked, 

I strived for money. 

This is what it takes to survive in the land of milk and honey. 

I don’t want to grow up. 

I don’t want to stand out. 

 I just want to stay ignorant. 

 I’d rather unknowingly live without. 

It’s not easy transforming a boy into a man, 

Or a girl into a woman. 

But everyone must succumb to the passage of time, 

Even Peter Pan. 

I thought I knew it all. 

I wish I could’ve understood, 

That life is too short, 

And I’m just a pawn in its hand. 

I wish I knew that life was a series of choices. 

I wish I knew that this was not a game. 

I wish I knew that whatever wrongs I did, 

That I and I alone was to blame. 

I couldn’t stay young forever. 

I couldn’t play the lost boy in neverland. 

I couldn’t pretend the world was in my hands. 

I couldn’t have ran, 

Because I knew it was coming, 

And the clock was ticking. 

I don’t want to grow up. 

 I don’t want to stand out. 

I just want to stay ignorant.  

I’d rather unknowingly live without. 

It’s not easy transforming a boy into a man, 

Or a girl into a woman. 

But everyone must succumb to the passage of time, 

Even Peter Pan.