With Or Without Poem by Sana Olivia Hernandez

To be an infant...
With purity and innocence.
Without understanding or memory.

To be a young child.
With little understanding and care-free charm.
Slowly decaying in purity.
Without burden or stress.

To be a tween.
With acne, confusion and new-found self consciousness.
Without imaginary friends or long term future plans.

To be a young adult.
With first love, friends and future plans.
Without true commitment, old friends or fond old memories.

To be an adult.
With freedom, responsibility and life.
Without under-the-bed monsters, overdue homework, or parents to heal these childhood ailments.

To be an elder.
With respect, experience and wisdom.
Without a full life ahead.
Soon to be freed by death.

-SOH