Life: start with laughter, smiles and Oreos,
The dye from popsicles on smiling lips,
Then slowly enter in life’s many woes,
Hard words from parents, tears of lost friendships.
Sweet innocence of childhood - often famed
As pure trust and belief in love and truth -
Is stolen by the passage of cruel years.
Must such be lost with fading, fleeting youth?
And now the choice ‘tween deep but hard-earned wisdom -
Bright star o’erhead that shields one from the dark -
Or bitterness that forbids the heart freedom,
As cloaked in fear hope fails to light a spark.
So shall we live and love then past the pain?
Or nurse our wounds and try to hide in vain?
©2010. Published with permission. Reproduction without permission is prohibited by international law.