John-Ward Leighton

WE ARE NOT YOUNG ANYMORE

we are not young anymore
and we are now closer to the other shore
how many more days
how many more trips
how many more slips
between the cup and the lips
before we understand
the meaning of freedom
and sadness and joy
when did we stop being
that nineteen year old boy
how long did it take us
to learn that happiness
isn’t something that can be pursued
and is mainly a factor of an everyday attitude
and not something that can be bought and sold
or consumed
and that our chemical addictions
contain the source of waking nightmares
that love is more valuable than hate
that heartfelt forgiveness
is the best revenge
and the only person you can truly change
is yourself
that music is more powerful than shouts
that dancing is an expression of bodily joy
that every bad act
be it a sin of omission or commission
has consequences
and sometimes our saintly sacrifices
are not enough
and there are many struggles
in our quest for the light
and never enough time to ever get it right
because as we near that distant shore
we discover that
we are not young anymore