When I was just seven months,
my mom said
the world couldn’t wait for me
to grow up and see
that life
is worth living.

When I was seven,
my mom said
the world is full of wonders
so that’s the day I looked under
my pillow
to find four quarters.

When I was seventeen
my mom said
the world exists with both good and evil
so that’s the week I saw people
beating up
that one kid for dollars.

When I was forty-seven
my mom said
the world isn’t meant to be forever
so that’s the month I swore I’d never
cry that much
ever again.

When I reached seventy
I said to myself
the world is a dream come true
but what they forget to tell you
is that nightmares
are dreams
too.