Growing Up Childhood Poems | Examples
These Growing Up Childhood poems are examples of poetry about Growing Up Childhood. These are the best examples of Childhood Growing Up poems written by international poets.
“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Childhood's magic once cast spells of wonder.
Wildwood berries turned to pirate's plunder.
That bright hummingbird, extraordinary,
in flight, became a wish-bestowing fairy.
Then, imagination made a carpet fly.
Men were heroes, never falling from the sky.
I miss that genie spell that lasts but twenty years.
I kiss childhood goodbye as it disappears.
FREE SPIRIT
If only I knew me when I was young,
my wits were all that I had.
Free to roam, I was seldom at home,
unwanted, unwatched, but not sad.
I felt so free when I couldn't be caught.
I learned to live off of the land.
They stopped searching one day, when I ran away,
so I never went back there again.
I learned the hard way, most of my life.
The lone wolf's freedom is earned.
I sold my trust for beauty and lust.
My freedom had a price, so I learned.
A man with a code, neither borrowed nor owed,
by his own rules he's free to play,
not hand-me-downs from a moral ghost town,
his righteous path whence he'll not stray.
He's known to go by many names
and we love to play at merry games -
but just who is the screwy guy
who floats in clouds up in the sky?
When he sits placidly, he's called a pond.
To my rock, his restful ripples respond.
After we've had this little talk,
he gets on his feet to take a walk,
becoming a creek or a stream -
and in a waking dream,
an arrow is loosed from a quiver,
and I'm a man and he's a river.
Growing up, I don't recall
being promised anything.
Disappointments? Yes. Plenty.
Deceived or lied to? Yes, and yes.
Broken laws, broken rules, and broken toys;
Broken windows and broken hearts;
Broken bottles and broken bats;
Broken promises? Don't remember any.
It was either , "Yes, I will", or, "No, I won't".
They did their best, and that was enough.
People either delivered, or they did not.
They kept things clear and simple.
Hoping was huge. Promises? Small.
It is better to be a promising person
that to be a promised person.
So, I never had to say to mom, dad, or
Anyone, "But you p r o m I s e d!"
No fancy toys just styrofoam cups and string
A ghost of gold in the morning light,
With tiny hands holding the ocean mist.
I watch the younger me take flight,
Through clocks of glass dreams—unkissed.
The silvery mirror starts to melt,
A childhood wish I once had felt,
Currently echoing where stars exist.
Childhood dreams and big ambitions.
Actually did grow up & became a pilot.
Absolutely knew it all along.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Tiny train...tiny memories...
how toys bring us back,
travel great distances
without actually moving --
how replicas resurrect
the plastic solders and tanks
in an attic trunk, my favorite
gun -- dry, bet the caps still
bang...?
Should these shaky old hands
pass them on? Or let them
desire their own -- to see what
future dusty attics will hold
after a fresh settling of years?
Spears, arrows, muskets, laser
blasters -- does anything really
change? Christ has not returned
despite our subsequent crucifixions....
Yet, love gives me hope....
111 Contest Picture Prompt Poetry Contest
Eve Roper
She reads through the night,
her eyes taking in each word,
as warm candlelight,
fills the room that is stirred,
with her book and hummingbird.
They are trampoline heroes
Battling unknown and unseen demons
Twirling in mock flight
Feigning a fierceness not felt
Children of a lesser fraud
Molded by changing winds
Guided by often unsure hands
Learning to trust in themselves
Lessons from multiple mentors
The necessity of strength
The guidance of gentleness
Softening the voice of anger
They will learn from the building of Magna-tile castles
The basics of perseverance and character
The machinations of a forming mind
Changing with each decision made
They seek without seeking
Think without “thinking”
Trust that the trampoline is safe
Knowing that we are there
I followed the sun to the sea to find
an electric horse that had no mind,
gliding up and down, and round and round,
pulled by a haunted jingly sound.
A hollow voice begged me to ride her,
from the empty air that stayed inside her.
paint drips down small hands
artists’ mural’s a fridge door
—soaped, sobs for new skill
Treasure youth ~ it quickly vanishes.
That’s advice I wish I’d had.
Your troubles will one day seem petty:
might not have known enough to heed.
Damned wise advice falling on deaf ears
You may experience occasional frustration,
your growing pains are natural.
Savour today ~ the moment is forever precious,
these are the golden days you’ll treasure.
Dream in colour ~ reach for the sky
There’s nothing you can’t do if you try.
Dream big Dream bigger ~ there’s no limit!
I can’t complain too much:
lessons learned the hard way
are an earned feather in our cap
but, trust me though, hindsight being 20/20
I could have done without the drama
Lineku: 3 stanzas 5-7-5 lines of 5 or 7 words
AP: 3rd place 2025
Yogi Bear to me is as close as family
Out in the backroads of my youth
Grew with me through the years
I’ll always have that soft spot in my heart
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
GAMES
parents
played with us
memories were made
with games as Mom and Dad
wished us to share smarts and fun
"play stays family bonds for life"