New And Old Poem by RIC BASTASA

when you are new
to this world, you always make the impression
that you know how to choose

you delve on exquisite
and discriminating taste

and you always say what is in your mind
you call a spade a spade
and you prefer the diamonds
and the matters fit for the king and queen

but life is not really like that
you fall and bleed
and you find it hard to accept
these skin and bones
the cartilages and nerves that already
know what cutting and breaking mean

time teaches. time heals.
and you learn to let go

and learn to accept what comes
uninvited, the failures and
unexpected calamities

the words 'no', 'not now' 'please don't'
'why me? '


slowly they do not find relevance anymore
and maturely enough you begin

to say ' well, these things happen'
'sometimes they just come'
'inevitable'

'we just have to learn to accept'
'these are realities'

finally, you become a part of this world.
the answer has always been 'yes, and yes'

come, i am human. Come i am brave.
Come, i am giving. Come, take me. Come, i am ready.

now, you know.