The Seven Ages of Man

THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN

Birth.

A new life coming into the world.

It's frightening.

All the senses flashing with awareness, like lightning.

I need security.

Comfort. A heart to hold me with no fears to scold me.

No thoughts of pain, no fear of death.

no worry of rejection, just my mother's warm breast.

I'm brave, taking steps.

Nothing can stand in my way.

I look forward to life, the wonders of each new day.

I learn faces, voices, and names.

I know that the big man is there to make faces and talk funny and play silly games.

But perfect innocence doesn't last forever.

Soon the age comes, the discovery of lying.

My purity slowly dying.

My brain shaped by the world.

I go to school, I make new friends.

Some kids, my parents say,

"Go walk the other way, they're bad."

They tell me to avoid them, so naturally I go astray.

I find out how easy it is to make girls cry, to cheat and to lie.

How easy it is

to reach into that boy's desk, and take that toy for my own.

Rationalizing, saying,

"This won't affect me when I'm grown."

I get spankings, detentions,

I sit in the corner, I get grounded.

Of course, I do more.

My parents worry, and I slam the door.

Now I'm on my own, a teenager,

"a legend in his own mind."

I'm not a child anymore.

But I'm still youth.

The pains hit harder now.

I get depressed.

My parents try to talk to me, but don't know how.

Suddenly I'm a problem.

A cancer, a disease that my parents don't want.

No longer a robot to control.

I have my own mind, my own destiny to find.

But it's lonely.

Deep inside I'm still crying, longing for hugs and love.

Now girls don't have germs.

They have life, energy, love.

A security no teen really has, but so desperately seeks.

A new game to play, the Dating Game.

Excitement, passion, love.

I release the pain, we share it. surrender ourselves.

Then trouble, silence, anger, confusion, and ultimately separation.

Depression takes effect.

I want to die.