Childhood Innocence

Her innocent eyes stare up at me
Her lips wide in a smile; hands grabbing.
Her small mind seeing only the sun and light.
She'll play with barbies, sky dancers and the like;
Fairy parties; tea-parties dress-up and so much more.
The world continues to spin; her obliviousness refreshing.

Time goes by; the sun and the moon enternally dance;
Tea-parties and faeries are lost; making way;
For trying on mums' clothes and playing at being grown up.
First crushes and cooties; hand holding in straight lines.
The starting point of cliches.

More time goes by; the dreams of her childhood fading.
Replaced by boys; the need to be accepted.
Innocence and naievty shed; the real world pressing down.
She grows; striking out on her own.
Punk; goth; skater; prep; geek; popularity; loner; where does she fit?
Self-images; struggles to find herself; where she belongs.

Finally emerging; cultured; sophisticated; a fine member of society.
Gone is her former innocence; the dreams almost gone.
She smiles; thinking; wishing; hoping.
Praying she'll be okay.
She wants simplicity sometimes; back to the days of tea-parties;
Slumber parties; faeries and dress-up.
A final good-bye; a sadly sweet smile
Her childhood closed forever.