-- Farewell, Childhood --

John Herlihy

I never really said farewell to childhood,

The child in me never really went away.

As I got older, I continued to wear a hood,

The child tucked itself into me there to stay.

We have wandered since then many a year,

We have trod a goodly distance, traveled far.

Seen many a sight, indeed shed many a tear,

All in shadowy light of the bright North Star.

The child lodged within me never took its leave,

He served me well in keeping my perspective fresh.

In happy innocence, I wore childhood on my sleeve,

My destiny opened before me as a perpetual wish.

Forgive me if this may seem as a kind of pretention;

Most people succumb to the vicissitudes of the day.

With carefree abandon, the child remained in retention;

Its promise tucked deep in my soul, never to go away.

I said good-bye to the intimacy of my childhood toys.

As I greeted every confusion that in adulthood annoys;

I bid a sad farewell to all the memories that did unfold;

I set myself free from all the sorrows that have been told.

What happy wonder to realize the child lived in me still.

That never prevented me from the simplicity of free will.

I may have left my childhood as if falling down into a well;

But I never surrendered the child and I never said farewell.

- - - - - -

(c) John Herlihy 3 September 2019