Growth

The biggest bird I’ve ever seen

filled the sky and then my screen

formed of air and formed of mist

for but a moment to exist

suspended there with widespread wings

embracing me and everything

embracing all that it could reach

a lesson here for me to teach

for but a moment... yes that’s true

just a blink for me, for you

time is ticking soon it ends

we lose our patience, lose our friends

we lose our things we lose our light

the day gives way unto the night

we lose our joy, we lose our love

we lose our faith in God above

we lose the laughter, lose our grip

we lose our footing then we slip

we lose our childhood then our youth

we lose sight of what’s the truth

we lose time, we lose the day

we lose our chance, we lose our way

we lose the peace we fought to gain

we lose our mind we go insane

we lose our strength we lose our sight

we lose our cool and start to fight

we lose our dream, we lose our hope

lose all ability to cope

we lose our kids we lose our car

we lose all sense of who we are

we lose our parents, lose some weight

we lose our hair our eyes go faint

we lose so much it’s hard to know

how losing things can help us grow

and yet it does or so it seems

we grow some insight to our needs

we grow some balls, we grow a spine

grow out of saying “No, it’s fine”

we grow some wings, we grow some sense

we drop the need for all pretence

we grow some wisdom, grow some light

grow used to shadows in the night

we grow in touch with all we are

we grow used to battle scars

we grow weak or we grow strong

grow used to sometimes being wrong

we grow up, we grow old

we grow meek, we grow bold

we grow a voice that’s all our own

we stop expecting blood from stone

we grow patience we grow wealth

then understand that time is stealth

we grow sick we grow weary

we look around and we grow teary

we grow wistful for the time

before our age started to climb

for but a moment to exist

formed of air and formed of mist

filled the sky and then my screen

the biggest bird I’ve ever seen.

- Vera Patterson