once there was a boy
who only knew innocence as
a word in
a book
someone else had written

only when he became a man
did he realize
what it took
to be able to understand
the meaning behind
being able
to write that word
in the chapter of his life
that related to
the things
he misses.

oh, to wield it again,
for upon a time ago it was a
tangible entity, a living limb
with which i shielded myself
against horror unknown and
all too real
and curious dangers
the likes of which
my mind could not fathom.

now that limb is severed and
phantomed and itchy where it
was once, a distant memory of
a not-so-distant time.

a nagging reminder that
i have responsibility,
duty, and no excuses
any longer.

12/23/2007

Posted on 12/23/2007
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