Forever Young

     Once, bewitched by the moonlight, I saw a strange dream.
     In its magical world everyone was fifteen.
     Clotho's thread kept on spinning, but the soul remained young
     For the toys were abundant and the summer days long...


     Now, a few were quite older, they were named The Old Guard;
     They took care of our safety as we played in the yard.
     Watching over our leisure, they decided for us
     At what times to play nicely and at what times to fuss.


     Thus they managed and schooled us every step of the way
     For without their care we could wander astray.
     As we rode in the slow lane, they would oft' whiz us by,
     As we swam in the kids' pool, they would surf ocean's tide.

               
     Still, we barely minded, we just wanted to play,
     With our new shiny gadgets in good ol' kiddie lane.
     As their grip on us tightened they watched in dismay,
     How the surrogates finally lost their luster and sway.


     Trampling down useless plastic, we examined our lot,
     And we knew it was high time for a real "heart-to-heart".
     But not one could find courage to step up to the plate,
     And to challenge the Old Guard – it was simply too late.


     Courage wasn't to be found, truth be told, we'd lost heart.
     While we fumbled with toy phones, it had fallen apart.
     While we played in the sandbox, our souls did wane,
     There was nothing to muster, all the talk was in vain.


     Then I woke up in terror, and my heart skipped a beat,
     For the Moon was not there, nothing shone o'er my head.
     Stormy cloud had engulfed it, as if crying out to me:
     Frightful dream was the final, last appeal to break free.
   

     See, the storm is approaching, it is time to be brave,
     Bid farewell to the kids' lane, leave behind Plato's cave.
     Time to jump off the dive board, grab the bull by the horns,
     Get right down to the essence, brace for scrapes and for falls.


     Perish infantile lightness, off with puerile games,
     I am too old for excuses, empty fools I disdain,
     Find your calling, my soul, treasure beauty and love,
     Human heart is for those, not for kiddie-lane stuff.