Lost Innocence

Oh how I wish my childhood and adolescence existed longer,
When happiness, wonder and idealism alternated with despair and anger,
When the mind was free of ambition and hunger,
When innocence and maturity used to linger,

When the best food was cooked by mother,
When affection, admiration, irritation was there in the eyes of brother/sister, 
When advice and criticism was heaped on us by father,
Those were the days when winter and summer were fonder,

Where did the excitement and surprise for a new experience disappear,
Who was it before in whom faith was put in times of gloom to appear,
When was the last time small situations created panic or fear,
When each friend was colourful and so very near and dear,

Oh! how I wish to pause and remember those moments with wonder,
Oh! how long has it been since one felt younger,
Oh! where is that wonderful smile free of greed and hunger,
Oh! how much will I miss the days devoid of worry and despair,

And so with a heavy heart, I became an adult from a carefree teenager,
And so I have become responsible, committed and wiser,
And so I lost the bright eyes full of innocent wonder,
And so I stop for my readers to think and ponder.