Youth Gone By

Youth Gone By
By: Zachary Wampler
Grown ups always ask, "When you grow up, what do you want to be?"
But none of them want to hear that I want to be me
That I just want to be a kid
That I want to look back later and remember the stupid things I did
Instead I grew up fast in a world not as perfect as it may seem
Instead I grew up fast and I never got the chance to dream


My father is a hard working man
I better work just as hard, the best I can
Give it all my all, give it my years, I have to be strong
Anything else is just plain wrong
"When you grow up, what do you want to be?"
They ask but they don't see


Pushed through countless schools
Told to sit down, shut up, and follow the rules
Told I still have more to give
Told that this is the only way to live
"When you grow up, what do you want to be?"
They say but I don't want a degree


Work everyday, work until I'm dead
Just for a bit of bread and half a bed
Without fail, day in and day out
Is this really all life is about?
They ask, "When you grow up, what do you want to be?"
And I whisper, "I want to be free."