This poem is a response to “The Bin” by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.

Every few months, 

Mom used to yell upstairs 

to tell me to put my old toys in the bin,  

but I didn’t listen.  

I always thought I would, 

but I never could 

bring myself up  

to handing in my childhood.  

But now I look back, 

thinking about the old days:  

School turns into work,  

food turns into fuel, 

instead of dessert.  

And now, in my final days, 

I look back to think, 

oh, how naïve I was 

to wish to grow up. 

Hopefully, sometime,  

my grandchildren and great grandchildren  

will learn before it is too late:  

Don’t rush to grow up.