Let’s talk about growing up,

Does it mean years spent?

Or does it mean wisdom learned?

Can it tell us our height?

Our weight?

How our hair changes

Ane our skin wrinkles?

Musing here about that term

Growing up.

When I was a child I dreamed

About growing up and being big.

It meant freedom to me to just be.

Adults didn’t report to anybody

For bed time or play time or anything

It seemed to me.

Then the rebellious teens came

And I pushed the boundaries,

Sampling what growing up meant

When it involved all the forbidden things.

There were the longest stretches

Of seeming grown up that came

When I was responsible for so much;

Jobs, bills, children, spouse,

The happiness of others in my hands

Or so I told myself.

Now I am in the gray haired, wrinkled,

Elderly stage of growing up.

Have I now grown up?

Is this it?

Am I finally here?

Where’s my wisdom and my reward

For finally being a real grown up?

It’s all a colossal cosmic joke.

We never grow up if we are really lucky.