Growing Up

Inevitable and in capacity with strength,
Desired and unfathomable.
We dreamt in color but were taught that the world is black and white with an irrefutable shade of gray...
This life has taught me prejudices of the heart;
racism in discreet whispers...
and if you are not careful you will self destruct.
This manipulation is futile...like chasing an initial high
trying not to step on the cracks of ghetto sidewalks
believing that I will survive the challenge unscathed
Yet we try to thrive and become the weeds that choke life
simple degradation at the hands of ourselves...
Back then was so carefree, wasn't it?
Naive to the loss of liberty, hours ran (for fear that they would sink if they stood still)
Absence caught in the hands of time and carelessly dropped in 'I remember whens'
Only the smiles in photographs exist...
Here we mourn out childhoods as we turn the yellowed pages of albums
with fragile memories and threadbare hopes.
It begins and ends here....
A life we anticipated has taken our breath
sharp inhalations that hurt your chest
leave you wheezing...
near asthmatic apertures...
dizzying reflections of a happiness that could have existed then
may have
should have.
And I watch them rushing to grow up...
glosses and skirts, full of life and swag.
Indecisive permissions and laughter that can make anyone dream a sigh...
This is life...death disguised...they say that you only live once - that's a lie.
Each generation lives through your eyes.

2014 (c)