Growing Up

I love the shrill voices of children
at play. Their volubility smacks
of self-importance but what it lacks
is only the onus we don when

we take it upon ourselves to rear
their like, because we'd have them be what
they are -till they can't. There is no glut
of childishness... I won't try to bear

the weight of the world; but on hip or
shoulders or cradled in my arms, I'd
carry any child. I myself tried
to stay... But that's what childhood is for:

Learning to live life, and keep the joy
it gives every little girl and boy.