He falls, scraping unguarded knee.The little boy, only age three,Holds back his sad and youthful tears,A lesson learned, kept all his years.  Small girl, in a dress of pink frills,Trips chasing a friend up green hills.Scolds for her ripped dress, all she hears.A lesson learned, kept all her years. Older now, but still a young teen,With trained emotion, like machineTeased if he slips and grinds his gears.A lesson learned, kept all his years. Now a schoolgirl, sees those with fame,Paints her face in self-conscious shame.Hiding herself from all her peers,A lesson learned, kept all her years.  He grows old, now age forty-threeHe needs to lead a family.Always holding back all his fears.A lesson learned, kept all his years.  Now her face is touched by age,She sees the faint lines as her cage,And so withdraws from any mirrors.A lesson learned, kept all her years.