GROWING UP

                        July 91, modified April 1997
                        by: raven shadowborne ©

                        Is this the loss of innocence?
                        Becoming mature
                        Does it have to mean losing he childhood zest for life and fun?
                        Discovery of new things, now old with age
                        Cynicism, living on in the old
                        Being truly old is to lose all sense of imagination..
                         So I've been told.

                        Can one recapture youth?
                        Reclaim it?

                        Looking deep, deep within my soul
                         I see a small child quivering with fear
                         darkness all around
                        This child paralyzed with terror
                         affraid to move or open her eyes
                         affraid to hope for release from her pain

                        My hand reaches out
                        gently my fingers close over hers
                        this child, that once was me, her eyes look to mine
                        eyes filled with pain, terror and rage

                        I smile, my wisdom and strength, pass it to this child
                        gently, raise the child to her feet
                        my hand turns on the light
                        the room glows, the child cries
                        Slowly I take the child into my embrace
                         soothing, comforting, loving
                        Accepting the past, the part locked away

                        I bring it into the light and see
                         it is not to be feared
                        Accepting that which I was, melding it with that which I am..

                        Feeling, as that childish zest returns to my life
                         my eyes once more look upon the world wide with wonder at
                        the miracles I see
                        Finally I am whole as I was meant to be
                         and even more.
                        Knowing I have come full circle
                        surpassed even my own expectations
                        The past and the present finally joined
                        the wounds finally healed
                         the future bright
                        Can one recapture what they lost?
                        the answer is yes, so life has taught.