See Me

They say 'You're a child,'

Sit straight, back stiff, smile please.

Don’t talk, eat your food,

Stop, go, get up, sit, stand.

Be quiet, not now!

Not now, not now, not now!!!

But I'm a child, if not now, then when?

Mummy when? Daddy? Teacher? When? 

If not now, then when?

I'm only small for a while, 

I yearn to play, my entire life is a smile.

Don’t wipe if off please, teach me to be,

A person of uniqueness,

And not someone, churned out of a factory. 

I long to smell the rain and run without shoes,

To play in the mud just as you once used to do.

I want to catch a butterfly, I want to paint the sky,

But I'm not allowed to do these, 

Oh, please tell me why?

Take your books, read once,

Write thrice,

Where is that project?

You're going to get it now, 

Shush, be quiet. 

Oh why do you hush me?

I have my day to share,

I know you're tired mummy,

I love you, I care.

I don't want to trouble you,

I just want you to see,

Look past the textbooks,

Please mummy, please daddy, 

See me! 

I am just a wee child,

I want to be free,

I want to catch rainbows,

And climb up a tree.

I want to look starry eyed,

At the squirrel and the sky,

I want to do so much,

Oh, please, please let me try.

Life is all balance, you've taught me that much,

I need to hear 'I love you,' I need your loving touch.

Let me hug you, don’t push me away, 

I know you work so hard, for we have bills to pay. 

Dejected I go, and pick up my phone,

I have no one to talk to, 

I feel so alone.

I get up once again, and again I will try ...

Be quiet, not now, I'm tired.

Not now, not now, not now!

If not now, then when?

For I'll never be a child,

Ever again! 

I don't want to irk you, 

I just want you to see, 

Look past everything, 

Please mummy, please daddy, 

See me! See me! See me!