Metaphor for Childhood
April 2014

I posted this photo on Facebook, and someone made a comment about the path disappearing into nothing and wondering what tales it might tell if we could see beyond the bridge. This prompted me to write this poem.

The summer of generations comes again,
Reveals a gateway into the world beyond.
The sunlight of youth draws out the leaves
And envelops the known universe in a safe haven,
Framed and defined within the security of innocence.

Only the gateway stands aloof,
Shadowy, enticing, forbidden, alluring, beyond the pale.

This timeless portal,
Bounded by railings, unbounded by curiosity,
Bathed in light, flooded in warmth,
Has bridged the divide for each new generation,
A metaphor for childhood.