"Just living is not enough...

...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?

 That little boy

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.”