30/12/96

Boy to Man

little boy plays happily,
in the fields with friends
long drawn out dreamy days
anxiety an unknown enemy

tired boy on a long journey,
friends a long way away,
functioning only as memories 
in a new Antipodean reality

clever boy alone, sadly
contemplating an accent,
hating a colour, choking
constructing the iron boundary

chunky kid, supposedly smart,
successful in the elder’s eyes,
smarts from colouful taunts...
keen brain but heavy heart

young man on the outer,
alone in a bookish haven
returning on a northern route,
inner struggle getting harder

shy young man, boyish in looks
piece of pretty paper proclaims
intelligence, a commodity unseen
unwanted, he's a slave to musty books

little boy, an old young man
on an uncertain, angst filled trek,
nowhere greeting him fast
he tries to feel while he can

his carefully constructed armour 
is hiding the softness inside
under sheets of uncertainty,
its greyness hiding vivid colour.