Becoming an Adult

Becoming an Adult

I think this poem is rather self-explanatory. It was written for the occasion of my son John's eighteenth birthday. I think most of us, when we reached that magic age, if we were at all honest with ourselves, would have to admit that we had some fears and self-doubt. Life is so uncertain; no guarantees, no warrantees, not even a book of instructions, just a general guideline and a lot of luck. I'm sure that if we knew what lay before us and had a choice in the matter, we would have thought twice about taking that giant leap into adulthood. But since there are no guarantees, we just do our best and plod along the best way that we can.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

28 May 1990

Becoming an Adult

For years and years it seemed the day

Was but a child's dream.

The day for you seemed lost in time,

Another childish scheme.

But years have come and years have gone

And time has passed you by,

The golden days of childhood, like

Diamonds in the sky.

You meet the day with head held high

But fear is in your heart.

Will all the dreams you've thought to win

Now of your life be part?

No man chooses all the paths his steps

Through life must trod.

He only can but do his best

And put his faith in God.

Your life is now the road before

And time is but a stream.

You've reached the place where life begins--

My son, you've turned eighteen.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

28 May 1990