There was wonder once, in the silent beauty of stars
When butterflies were new to us and gossamer dandelions
We touched the tortoise shell of life with trembling smiles
Our days were slow and thus so armored and protected
We knew the kitten’s fur and the down of baby chicks
But did not understand the wide-eyed nerve of rabbits
We could never catch the goldfish swimming in his bowl
Until we learned to use a net to capture and control
While plucking flowers bright in color we saw them wilt
We never dreamed we could be caught up like them
We tried to save the baby bird whose rapid heart trembled
In our palm like our lip with tears as he slipped away
Things fall from the tree of life and go unrecovered
They are simply not able to fly to the nest again
On Sunday we went to church and learned the golden rule
Then life became learning as we started our days at school
We were taught the same as every other child
We were molded to become citizens and students
We learned patriotism and how to pledge allegiance
We became parts of a group bigger than ourselves
So when the teacher spoke, we never questioned
If anything was truth, we took it for granted
The adults had all the answers that ran the world
They understood the wide-eyed nerve of rabbits-we were afraid to ask
We knew everyone could be trusted absolutely
Why would anyone hurt who knew the golden rule?
Then we fell in love and thought our hearts were broken
And we began to question if everyone thought we were fools
Years passed and we were surprised our hearts healed
But we looked at our scars often and cautiously
We looked at others and began to wonder if they felt
The same as us and lost a bit of what to feel
We lost all interest in the stars for music and friends
We were social creatures finding our place in the group
Like a herd or pack or even a flock; we learned formation
We learned how to scatter and how to leave the weak behind
We fell in love again and again- but a little less each time
We expected our hearts to heal and grow tough like tortoise shell
We were fast and reckless but we built our walls to last
And we took comfort that we were thus protected
Then one day our world was shattered- our dreams scattered
We were broken-hearted again and left alone
Our tears remembered the little bird and how it died
And as we cried we wished-oh how we wished- it could have flown
We began to think about the weak we left behind
We learned regret and sorrow and it perplexed our minds
As more years passed we put aside our wild and reckless habits
We began to contemplate in earnest-the wide-eyed nerve of rabbits
Gray hair and wrinkles came- we traded our jobs and cars
Some of us changed our names and wives or went to drugs or bars
Others went seeking the golden rule- wondering still if they were fools
But we found wonder once…in the silent beauty of stars
© 2011 Fabian G. Franklin
