Growing Up

Growing Up

Growing up is too short a phase, zooming out and gone. 

Found myself playing dress-up in clothes too big for 

my body (read: thrust with responsibility)

and a thinking cap mature from experience.

Curly hair poked out from the nether regions.

Things "swelled", others got deeper.

Innocence no longer bred fascination in a fireworks display.

I could not relive my fear of clowns. (evil laugh)

Skin color held new meaning,

Neighbors had ulterior motives in chance meetings.

(I could swear they were plotting against me)

Thought thrice before doing something spontaneous,

Like singing a song or lamenting my fate (in dramatic fashion).

Despised the shallow veneer of the world,

Its obsession with celebrities and surface perfection.

Cared about how I looked (for once in my life).

Evidence: Changed outfits like a desktop wallpaper.

Arranged each loose hair strand like ikebana in an art gallery.

Then tried to undo adolescence.

Wished I could believe again.

In Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and other merry characters.

That life was one big fairytale with happily ever afters.

Happiness was one more toy away.

And a pet dog.

And a candy bar.

And a frolic in the playground.

And a play session with fire.

And pushing a girl into mud.

Oh no! Here comes mummy with the cane.

No point running. Let's hope she misses.

Who am I kidding? Growing up is great.

Forget it. FLEE!