A Fading Smile, A Withered Life Poem by Gataua Karanja

I was a child,
life was an adventure,
in everything i did, i managed to find a smile,
and found joy in the small things,
playing with the mud made toys,
splashing in the rivers with other boys,
i was a child, en route discovering the world.

Everything i did, i gave my utmost best,
like collecting abandoned nests,
books were my friends, on my bed they would rest,
and make my mind wander,
to lands yonder, fill my mind with wonder.

Now that am grown,
i no longer have the zest,
and life has since lost its luster,
paying attention to people's thougts,
letting their opinion guide my acts,
while all i want is dance in the rain
like a child, with abandon,
like no one is watching,
free myself from all cares in the world,
if only i was a child,
BUT ALAS AM NO LONGER A CHILD! ! !