Once When We Were Small

Once when we were small, and all the world was bigger
you placed your hand in mine one day and gave a little snigger:
“Trust you not in adults, boy,” you whispered in my ear,
“for they will only do you down and fill your life with fear.
Take instead these simple words and let them be your strength,”
You sat me down and pulled me close and then explained at length:
you told me how the world did work, and secrets mighty too,
you told me many stupid things, and mixed the false with true.
At fall of night at last you stopped, and took a needed breath,
“Life is life, but know this now, that all things end in death”.