Growing Up

They say that it all gets better with time,

But we no longer recite the nursery rhymes.

No lullabies nor bedtime stories

(Of fairies, and dwarfs, and warriors’ valor and glories).

Why is there a limitation to our dreams now?

Why can’t we co we go back in time somehow?

The five year old me doesn’t recognize me anymore;

“Go, get drenched!”, he says whenever it starts to pour!

My cold reply to the one with an impish glee:

“Carefree I dare not be!

Why can’t you see?

Responsibilities so many,

And so many places to be!”

What brought this change? What made me so strange?

So many faces around, but each one wore just one;

Knees bruised and wounded elbows yet we had so much fun.

The ecstatic crescendo filled the morning air

When in a rousing chorus the school anthem we sang;

Somewhere down the line we lost that flair

How we long to feel that bliss when the last bell rang!

You know what they say about the grass being greener on the other side,

Adulthood apparently was only but glorified.

When did it all become so monotonous and mundane?

If only we could build Lego houses and make paper-planes,

Forget about our worries and go splashing in the rain;

Just for a day, can’t we be kids again?

Life was simple; getting overjoyed was simpler still:

New pens, sharpened pencils,

Water bottles taking eternity to fill,

Slam books and stencils,

Neither house rent nor electricity bills,

Lunchboxes emptied before recess,

Returning home in a mess.

Never conscious about how we look or what we wore,

Now we don’t struggle with our shoelaces anymore.

Upfront with everything, never in a dilemma,

Stumbling and falling was never a faux pas.

Trading grades with our parents for toys;

Reminiscing these priceless simple joys,

Makes us wonder where did those days go?

Taking a stroll down memory lane,

What would we not give as a quid pro quo,

To relive those memories all over again!

Oh sweet innocence, when did we bid thee goodbye?

When did we grow up, and why?