[stylist] Childhood's end (for change assignment)

[Brad Dunsé]

Wow. I think you neailed the mind of a newbie 
teen. I won't give a poetic evaluationas there 
are more qualitied folks  here for that, but 
reading it, even with its continual linear 
format, I really enjoyed it. Very nice, and sound advice as well.
Brad

On 1/13/2012  11:02 PM Barbara Hammel said...
>This is a poem I wrote a long time ago.  I’m 
>still trying to work up something new, because 
>that’s what these are supposed to do, but 
>maybe I could rework the thing with a new title 
>or something.  If it doesn’t come through in 
>form, it once again is four-line stanzas with 
>lines 2 and 4 rhyming.  Soon you’ll all tell 
>me to get out of my rut.  (I need to, and try 
>now and then.)    CHILDHOOD'S END The toys that 
>once lay scattered, Now are packed away, The 
>books and crayons you used to use, On a rainy 
>day. The innocence of being young, Is slowly 
>wearing off, The world around you is opening up, 
>And you have to prove you're tough. You can 
>handle cigarettes, And sex and drugs and booze, 
>You say this is your life, You can do anything 
>you choose. You're not a child any more, Your 
>playing days are through, You're sick of being 
>treated like a baby, You're a grown-up, too. But 
>thirteen isn't all that grown up, You'll realize 
>that someday, You'll wish you were a kid again, 
>So you could go out and play. No more talking 
>mom and dad Into getting you a pup, No more 
>carefree summer days, When you are grown up. The 
>straight-away road is curving, Turning around a 
>bend, Just before you're through the turn, 
>You've reached childhood's end. No more playing 
>paper dolls, Or boats in your bubble bath, It's 
>on to foreign languages, And Algebraic Math. No 
>more trucks and cars and trains, And dolls and 
>teddy bears, No more making mud pies, Or sliding 
>down railings on stairs. No more tears over 
>scrapes and bumps, Or lost or broken toys, 
>They're now tears that only girls cry, Because 
>crying's not for boys. You might start dating 
>the boy or girl, Who used to be your best 
>friend, Things really change a lot, At a place 
>called childhood's end. There's no more Bible 
>School, Or Little League ball, There's no more 
>playing in leaves, In the fall. They're childish 
>things, Is what you think, Now it is more fun, 
>To hang out at the skating rink. The sandbox was 
>burned as firewood, The swing set was taken 
>down, Santa Claus doesn't really exist, And 
>nothing's exciting about a clown. The worlds of 
>make-believe have vanished, So have the games of 
>pretend, For most people imagination has died, 
>At childhood's end. Wars are being fought 
>inside, As you struggle to mature. Are you ready 
>to be grown up? Or aren't you really sure? At 
>thirteen life is really hard, But there is a 
>blend, Of anticipation for the future, And a 
>sadness for childhood's end. Childhood's end 
>means many things, Things both good and bad, It 
>also brings mixed feelings, Feelings both happy 
>and sad. Say good-bye to childhood, But don't 
>let go without a fight. Say hello to 
>adolescence, A grown-up, you're not quite. 
>You've reached childhood's end, Your life is 
>changing a lot, Adolescence has come upon you, 
>Whether you're ready for it or not. Barbara A 
>man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn 
>his back on the crowd. -- Max Lucado 
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Brad Dunsé

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way...
If you don't, you'll find an excuse." --Unknown

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