Just A Child Poem by Patrick Akhudu

In the prison of childhood
I desire to remain;
To shield my innocence
Against the society of grown-ups,
That pit of filth.

I do not want to grow up
To become a mean man,
A wicked woman,
A gruesome old geezer,
Or a wily witch or wizard.

I want to remain a child Draped in awesome honour.
Not to reincarnate into a despot,
The heartless hounds,
The desperadoes….

I want to remain
An adorable bundle of joy,
Radiating hope and love,
Smiling toothlessly
At guilty grins of my admirers.

I do not want to grow up
And be baptized hyena or pig!
I cherish my identity;
A child, an angel,
The very image of God.

Let me remain a child
For I do not want to peddle lies
That causes heartaches.
Let me remain blameless,
Unlike the serpents.

I am a symbol of fidelity.
I must keep my promises.
I must remain undefiled.
I must breed pure joy.
So, I choose to be a child.

When I grow up,
I will remain a child;
To shake hands in sincerity,
To build bridges of unity,
With a heart of gold.

I will conserve my conscience
And live a straight life.
I want to remain a child
To give humanity the face of God.
I am just but a child.