...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." -- Hans Christian Andersen
Where did the sunshine go?
By: Ami Dunlap
A little boy
Playing, running, laughing
Jumping on the trampoline
Riding bikes through the
woods
Building a treehouse in the
summer
Making sheet forts in the
living room
Just because it’s fun.
And because he can.
A smile
Brightening the world
Bringing kindness to his
friends
Cracking a wry joke
Making people laugh
Just because it’s fun.
And because he can.
A strong young man
Holding down the fort
Bringing strength to his
family
Bringing smiles to his
friends
Learning to be a light
To the world
Just because it’s good.
And because he can.
But then he turns 18.
“You have to grow up now,”
They say.
“Put away childish things,”
They say.
“No more laughter. No more
fun.
Now it’s time to work,”
They say.
What do you do?
When your whole world changes
in the blink of an eye?
What do you do?
When your talents are no
longer valued?
They’re not
“Good enough”
For the world
Anymore
A little boy no longer
Now a grown man.
And instead of holding sunshine
In the palm of his hand
Now there’s a rock
A boulder
Heaped upon his shoulder
Weighing down his every step,
His very breath
Consumed
In the exertion
Of holding up that rock.
Because he must.
Instead of laughter
Instead of smiles
There is sweat.
There is work.
And he plods along
Doing the things
They tell him to do
Because he must.
Now he has a family.
Now he cannot slack
Even though, every time he
tries
He is told he is
“Not good enough.”
There is doubt
There is discouragement.
But he soldiers on
Doing the things they tell
him to do.
Because he must.
He has a wife now.
He has children.
And he takes care of them.
Because he must.
Where did the little boy go?
Who was so full of happiness
and light?
Who held sunshine in the palm
of his hand?
The little boy who shared happiness
with the world
As easily as riding a bike?
He’s still there somewhere
Isn’t he?
He’s still there.
Waiting for the moment
The grown man sets down the rock
Looks up at him and smiles
And comes over to him and says,
“Let’s play.”
