When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven.
Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realized that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever was I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those other people
But my own, and mine alone
Was that the day!
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s place,
That’s all I know.
MARKUS NATTEN
Ceased : stopped
Hidden : latent
Infant : a little child
