As children we enter this world

And attack life with great gusto and wild abandon

Climbing trees and scaling walls

Running always, no time to walk

So much to see and experience

In the magic of every day life

But this exuberance is slowly squelched

And careless injuries are hopefully avoided:

“Be careful!”  “Pay attention!”,

“Watch where you are going!”

“Slow down!”,  “You’ll get dirty!”

“You might get hurt!”

So as we come of age

Some with more grace than others

Life’s zest becomes laced with wisdom

And we finally take head of the absolute importance to:

“Be careful”, of yourself and of others too

“Pay attention”-the world is still so full of daily wonders

“Watch where you are going”, some routes are so treacherous

“Slow down”, yes-enjoy the journey, don’t miss the miracles

“You’ll get dirty”, you will, but some water and soul searching are sure to cleanse

“You might get hurt”, of course-and you might hurt others as well

So, travel on, relish the journey and heed the advice of old

Its meaning runs so very much deeper than I ever thought

As I have uttered and do, those very same phrases

To my children and grandchild as they, too, travel on