In growing up one must be tough

Adolescence is hard enough

Resisting all the childhood taunts

Finding out just what one wants

Live at home with mom and dad

Go to school, become a grad

Choices there that you must make

Party hard or tests to take?

At last you leave your family home

Living life out on your own

Spread your wings and learn to fly

Set your goals up in the sky

Freedom always has its cost

Freedom comes, but what is lost?

Autonomy is what you gain

But with independence comes the pain

Insurance, taxes, bills and rent

In your paycheck make a dent

Living off what you can glean

Lose yourself in the machine

Growing old happens way to fast

Wondering when your life flew past

Bitter tears in your eyes gleam

Hoping it’s just a bad dream

Nightmares wake, now breathing deep

Wide open eyes, too scared to sleep

Listen well to the tale here told

Do not wait ‘til you get old

Waste not your life on jewels and gold

Spend your days on something bold

Reaching out means being brave

But you never know who’s life you’ll save

I tell you child, you are free

You can be who you will be

Live your life just as you will

Swallow whole the sweet, sweet pill.

-Dewey

December 22, 2003