Twenty One Years

For twenty one years I have been,

And I know not if I will see

Even another day,

And what a shame that would truly be.

What have I done to justify

This greatest gift I've been bestowed?

I do not wish for the world,

As magnificent as it may be.

No, only for happiness,

And all I can experience in its pursuit.

While being one step away from joy,

Another from utter despair,

With adventure and danger lurking

At even the most simple moments.

I am the boy, and the man,

And I refuse to choose between them,

So! Love me or disgard me for my naive points of view.

I am reluctant to change, yes,

But I welcome all that comes and

Carry the pleasures and burdons without judgement.

I have not won

The prestige of fools like I,

Yet perhaps I have accomplished

Enough to justify

My existence after all.

Within the realms of imperfection,

I have lived, for good or ill,

As I so chose, and there are those

Who cannot say the same.