Stages Poem by Kathryn BecknerOssman

STAGES
by: KathrynO

Stage one....child
a little body with an old mans soul
doing uncanny things that made our eyes roll
at the level of talent you possessed as a child
all the while staying meek, mannered and mild

As I grew I learned from the best
Little did I know I would ultimately top the rest
So much I missed, just being a boy
To just have a friend would have been a joy

Stage two...pre-teen
Its hard to believe were at this stage
We knew all along you would be the rage
Girls from around the world screamed your name
By now its old hat, all the towns look the same

Perfecting my art took patience and will
I didn't mind I only had time.... to kill
Insecurities started to creep in my head
Many times I wanted to hide under the bed

Stage three...teenager
A teen idol it is, you are the one
On the Teen Beat cover having so much fun
Behind the mask, you were self conscious and shy
Teenage afflictions made you cry

My fathers abusive words could be cruel
In my mind I kept saying 'one day my destiny I will rule'
A drivers license I was denied, my father kept me tied
No input allowed, his demands I would abide

Stage four...early adult
All he had learned gave him courage to go it alone
He took the songs and made them his own
One rehearsal he broke his nose, it was nasty
That was his first rhinoplasty

My skin was changing to my dismay
The shame I felt made me want to run away
All I could do was work to even it out
Vitiligo I had and could do nothing about

Stage five...adult
His skin was still changing and no one would believe
He had a disorder, he was'nt trying to deceive
Plastic surgery was his personal decision
It never interfered with his musical vision

I never understood the fascination with my face
Never publically wanted to plead my case
Nothing was private in my world at any stage
That left me an adult filled with discomfort and rage

Stage six...father
As an entertainer, it was my destiny
Being a father was what I was meant to be
Seeing my son for the very first time
I cried and cried, knowing he was all mine
Then with my daughter, I was amazed
A sweet little girl, I was chosen to raise
My third child, a beautiful son, I was never the same
To ME these three perfect angels came