Eyes open-light
the beginning of new life
your mother's smile, your father's face
a white room-hospital

a room with toys, your old crib
you have a new bed, one without bars
you look out your window
birds, trees, flowers

your first day of elementary
more children than you've ever seen
so many new faces
a classroom full of new things

seven different classrooms a day
more people, all diffrent, yet all the same
the world is bigger, brighter, more vibrant
things are never as before

graduation, college, work
the world is not as it once was
light and free, beautiful and hopeful
there are shadows of darkness and dispair

a wrinkled face, white hair
eyes dulled by cateracts, yet still bright
eyes have seen much
hope, dispair, light, dark, happiness, fear

the faces of your family surround you
eyes shimmering with tears they will not shed
mouths forming the words of love, friendship, and goodbye
eyes close-light