"Grow up!"

Even the shadows seem to scream

echoing thoughts

of teachers,

of friends,

of family,

of me.

"This way you have,"

Won't get you far, kid."

Grow up; wake up!

"Life's not the fairytale you think it to be"

But then I was seven

watching cancer turn a firefighter,

a dad,

to something utterly ignored

in those fairytales I so adored.

"Grow up!"

I already have.

And that naivety

That you said would hurt me,

has made me strong.

Stronger than I thought I could be.

So take your chastising words

and pitiful looks

elsewhere.

I am too old for that.

I grew up too soon

And now I know

childish imagination

should just be called

" The Strength to Overcome"