David Smith | + Follow Poet |
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When Two Worlds Became One

Once upon a time there were two worlds,
One for children and one for adults,
Each owing its existence to the other,
With the children awaking to a new sun each day, eager to explore, 
Both, the boundaries of a world still unfamiliar, 
And the limits of their physical and mental abilities, 
In preparation for initiation into the adult world.

Protected from harm and mentored by parents from the adult world,
Granted Honorary citizenship in the children's world with limited Authority
To teach lessons needed for Life in the adult world, 
Only able to intervene in
Children's play to protect life, 
And to promote behaviors, leading to lifelong friendships, 
Using age appropriate techniques, 
That did not advance the child beyond their years and seeing that, 
No children were out of bed when, the moon was full.

In the adult world one learnt to balance play and responsibility to protect,
The integrity of both worlds,
The rule of thumb being that adults only played adult games, 
And discussed, adult issues,
That were too sensitive for the ears of children, 
When children were asleep.

With each intake of graduates from the children's world, 
The adult world became stronger and more able, 
To meet their obligations to the children and their world.

For centuries, the two worlds co-existed in perfect balance,
Until those in the adult world decided, 
That the state was better suited to, 
Preparing the children for the adult world.

At first the parents were emphatic in their NO,
Until one by one they voted away their responsibilities,
So, they could play adult games more often.

With no one to put the children to bed on time,
The children's eyes and ears became overexposed to the adult world,
While inhabiting bodies not yet fully developed, 
And using minds, not programmed to deal with, 
The complexities of the adult world.

As state control in the adult world grew stronger,
The adult influence in the children's world also grew,
Until one day the children's world officially became
A province of the adult world.

With no children's world to retreat to,
The Children now confused and unwanted turned to, 
Breaking heads and shop windows as well as hearts.

Mankind is now reduced to frantically searching space for a new planet,
To move to, before this one too disappears.

Alas it may be all in vain unless we can first rediscover the children's world
And repopulate it, 
So, when it is time to head out into space, 
We will be strong enough to take on the responsibility.

Copyright © David Smith | Year Posted 2018

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