it was a time of fairy tales 
that all came true
of Camelot 
and brave knights and slain dragons
of innocence and naivete

but dark clouds rolled in
shadows filled the voids
Ozzie and Harriet passed on
Ricky learned a lesson at a garden party
war reappeared from history books
high school friends did not come back
dreams became degrees without jobs
marriages birthed babies that pooped and cried

and suddenly
there it was
a world outside the castle walls
a world that sometimes screamed 

shut up!

A world where people died 
long before they were old
and dreams became budgets that never had enough
and happiness hid behind closed eyes

until finally
I began to grow up
to accept that this is what life really is
that those early years were a precious gift
a time to explore, to be curious, to 
strengthen values that would later guide me
across life’s stormy oceans

and as I pause
pondering the next step on my journey
I gratefully reflect 
on the delights
the inspiration 
of younger years


tio stib