[Growing Pains][17th April 1970]

[Redbook1:143A][19700417:0000][Growing Pains][17th April 1970]

17.4.70.

Growing Pains.

                                    Ever since ape-child first began

                                    To push against parental ban,

                                    And joined the Group -- forsook the Clan –

                                                This is the Child

                                                            Becomes the Man.

                                    The same for Chimp, Orang-utan

                                    As Russian, Scot, Malay, Pathan

                                    From Shannon’s Town to North Japan –

                                                This way the Child

                                                            Becomes the Man.

                                    The prince who disobeyed his Khan

                                    Was frowned on by the Artisan –

                                    Whose son, who ATE, washed not the pan –

                                                Who saw how Child

                                                            Becomes the Man.

                                    He occupied the best divan

                                    And commandeered the chief sedan

                                    And rode about where father RAN! –

                                                They knew the Child

                                                            Becomes the Man.

                        The Girl who’s always tired and wan,

                        Obsessed with make-up, songs and tan,

                        And craves for tights, and – “marzipan?!” –

                                    She knows the Child

                                                Becomes The Man.

                        The Boy who tinkers with a van,

                        Affords the world a leisured scan,

                        Or, brooding, kicks an empty can:

                                    This way they Child

                                                Becomes the Man.

                        “He's lost his former joy, elan;

                        For future, not for now, his plan;

                        How shall I last his youthful span?”

                                    -- And so the child

                                                Becomes the Man.

[PostedBlogger09022013]