What Is Life? Poem by Jason Summers

'What is life like as an adult? ' A child looks up and asks.
'It depends on how you were raised, how you were influenced, and what you had for responsibilities and tasks.'
I couldn't explain all the details because there are no set guidelines in life.
You make a mistake, correct it, and struggle in strife.
Not everyone is the same as you can clearly see.
But as human beings walking, talking, and thinking, prejudice does not effect us as relatives, you and me.
Prejudice of color is only a pigment of our imagination,
The rest is taught to us and enforced through society's ill-realization.
Violence, sex, and money is said to be the main values,
In America? The land of the free? Of course, for some this could be true.
I may be said not to be a good person to follow within footsteps,
But everything that I've done or has happened taught a lesson I have kept.
I am 18 with the mind of a 30 year old,
And my inner child still develops everyday I am told.
I've suffered for too many years as a child to become an adult,
Still, I'm just a kid who's giving you advice for guilt.
My heart searches so much for peace within myself,
And each day I have knelt to another person's superiority and wealth.
When I get a chance to live my life I'll be the happiest person in the world,
Because my decisions won't be influenced by 'Big Brother' and my head won't be burrowed.

1994