Today it’s all black and white <br />the shades of grey come with experience <br /> <br />You don’t believe me <br />because you are 18 and <br />safe in the knowledge <br />that you have mastered everything that you will ever need to know <br />you look at me, with what you’re convinced <br />is wisdom <br />because I am confused and sad <br />and I can’t quite decide <br /> <br />You say I need to grow up <br />and you are shocked that <br />you can offer me your <br />platitudes and advice <br />and smug <br /> <br />smug that when you are 24 <br />you will never feel desperately alone <br />that the solutions will be clear <br />that you will <br />never <br />have to listen to the musings <br />of a semi-adolescent <br />in order to gain perspective <br /> <br />And you just might be right <br />because you are a <br />“man” <br />and you are 18 <br /> <br />But my sweet, sweet boy <br />the shades of grey come with experience <br />and you are intent on experiencing <br />nothing <br />And when you are 24 <br />you may still be safe <br />in your newsprint zebra world <br />observing but never <br /> <br />connecting <br /> <br />And then I will be <br />smug <br />because is their anything more beautiful <br />than a grey sky <br />with just a hint of sun slicing through the <br />clouds?<br /><br />Abbi van den Berg<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/24/
