Children Left To Be Poem by Barry Van Allen

I was once was a kid,
but, not like kids today,
they know the world so very well,
at such a tender age.

Their heads are pushing Twenty,
when they are only twelve,
perhaps because their parents,
are thinking only of themselves.

I would love to be a child again,
when childhood used to be,
a time for fresh beginnings,
hating girls and climbing trees.

I would roam the neighbor's yard,
as if it was made for me,
those people never seemed to mind,
... well born and running free.

I would climb upon the fences,
the king of all surveyed,
and I would throw a temper - tantrum,
when my parents disobeyed.

As such a little prince,
I imagined that to be,
and then they called me in to dinner,
and took away my fantasy.

I would also throw a baseball,
and often catch the same,
I would hit it, often chased it,
as I was learning all the games.

The kids today are different,
they are growing up too fast,
family doesn't matter much,
it doesn't seem to last.

I'd hate to be a kid today,
knowing what I know,
but, they don't know the difference.
and so, they keep on growing.

No, I am not a child,
though childhood I see,
the watching does not last as long,
and too early running free.