First You're A Child Poem

First you're a Child

first you're a child
growing to be found
you come to this world
for a reason unknown
knowing absolutely nothing
except to survive
so you cry
to satisfy the pain
felt from inside

as the time passes
of which you are not aware
you watch the people around
to see who they are
what they are
you know you are the same
except for something
they supply your needs
and you are grateful
and for the first time
you feel love

then you settle down
to the task of learning
learn first to eat
then to move
step up to conveying thoughts
to those supplying your needs
discover a way to be mobile
crawl first, then walk
then begin to speak
small words, familiar words
and for the first time directly
you've influenced the world

watch
watch everybody, everything
every little item, watch,
for you've developed a memory
which is vacant
yet must be filled
watching leads to wandering
which with words is "why"
for you want to understand
the ways of the world
why you're in this land

gradually as you observe
you feel the urge to imitate
which to those around is play
so in play you imitate
the people you've watched
the things they've done
you want to be like them
they're the model you choose
yet they are not perfect
neither can you be

expand and grow
for many years you'll be small
take on complications
listen to those around
communicate with those who will
go to school, learn,
fantasize about life
what it's all about
there's so much around
plenty of room
to expand and grow

and then suddenly
you're grown
at least that is what they say
you've learned of responsibility
you're capable of caring
of protecting yourself and others
so now what will you be
what is your vocation
have you learned all there is
or are you still a child
even while you're grown
waiting to be found

from here begins life anew
for no one knows what they should
you're not alone
there are still those you imitate
still those games to play
still those first steps to take
still a memory to fill
yet things are different now
for through all those years before
you've prepared for the day that is now
yet you wish you knew how

life has become no longer learning
it is now become doing
do with your experiences
do with all you've learned
do the best you can
just do something
because you're like all the rest
and they feel it too

so you take a vow
with one
to spend your life entire
to receive your love
to give you love
to be locked in eternity
to face together
to climb together
the bonds of reality

you find yourself with child
one to climb where you've
already been
one to watch you
one to imitate you
one who will pick up
the things you do not wish to give
and you flash to your childhood
and you grow up again
with your child, thru your child
because of your child
you grow up again

by the time your child
is where you are now
life is two third complete
or maybe only half
and another phase begins
another ladder appears
new experiences happen
new decisions arise
just what is life

for now you see the end
as you have all along
you've always hoped for something
just a little better than what you had
and yet
no matter how you've changed
the things around
or yourself
things are still not right
and you wonder why

then comes that long away day
when you walk with Death
you've enjoyed life and yet
not the way you could have
just remember all you've learned
for that's all life could have been for
bring to mind the years of hope
and never let go
and when you step out of life
give yourself a hand and a nod
and keep the faith you've had in hope
and walk straight on to god