Bernard Chan Poet Free verse

The Lost Years

The photos stopped 
when you were 10 or 11.
Around that time, you started refusing to 
have your pictures taken.
A few candid shots are all I’ve 
managed since then.
In them, the look on your face is growing inward, 
as a cocoon slowly encloses you in a 
translucent mystery,
turning you into a dark silhouette 
as you start to construct your 
own parallel universe,
in a tug of war with a thousand things 
you are just starting to learn the meaning of, 
morphing into what the world will know,
what I will, with any luck, 
recognize only with squinted eyes 
when the cocoon reopens.   

For now, I can’t see you.  

All I can do is wait.

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Diane Perna February 13, 2023 at 12:38 PM Profound! I can relate!

Bray Holt February 9, 2023 at 11:03 PM The Lost Years is a brilliant expression of a wise parental observation. Well done and thank you for it.

Richard Morris February 9, 2023 at 2:26 PM Great poem of how to greet each day.

Al Juman July 9, 2018 at 12:18 PM indeed this was well written Bernard Chan July 9, 2018 at 8:11 PM Thank you, Al. Glad you liked it.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 19, 2018 at 10:19 PM This is brilliant Bernard. A fave :) xomo! Bernard Chan June 20, 2018 at 9:47 AM Hey, thanks a lot, Maureen :)

Darlene De Beaulieu June 10, 2018 at 5:49 PM Hello Bernard, I have enjoyed your poem. We all have lost years Bernard. Have a nice evening my friend. Bernard Chan June 11, 2018 at 4:48 AM Thanks for dropping by again, Darlene, and for your lovely comment. You have a nice evening, too :)

Joseph P. DiMino June 9, 2018 at 7:08 PM Well done, Bernard; deep and heartfelt. Often the world shapes things away from us...a temptation to change--not to be left behind alone. But, really, one's own truth intact far exceeds a world of others. Bernard Chan June 10, 2018 at 7:13 AM Thanks very much, Joe. Appreciate it.

Caren Krutsinger May 12, 2018 at 3:30 AM I love this poem; it is going to my FAV list. You have captured the essence of the pre-teen years, and you are wise enough to know it's only temporary. Bernard Chan May 12, 2018 at 9:54 AM I know it's only temporary because that's what I've been told by other parents, so the wisdom is not mine. Thank you very much, Caren :)

Vijay Pandit May 8, 2018 at 7:19 AM This is such a powerful observation..I can relate to the experience you describe so well, when our kids approach teenage years..a natural inclination for independence..well captured Bernard. Bernard Chan May 8, 2018 at 10:47 AM Thanks a lot for dropping by again, Vijay, and for your generous comment. Great talking to you again.