GROWN UP

Amado L. Picardal

 Rubber bands, toyguns,

   marbles, kites,

        tops and balloons.

 These I have outgrown.

 Streamers, banners,

   placards, leaflets,

      megaphones and molotov cocktails.

 Thes I  have outgrown.

 Slums, farms,

   factories, picketlines,

        hills and jails.

 These I have outgrown.

 How I have grown.

 Golf clubs, tennis racket,

    highrise‑office, cocktail lounge,

       Mercedez benz and stately mansion.

 I have grown.

 And I look back and say:

 we were young and full of idealism.

 But deep within a nagging thought:

 the system I tried to change

                      changed me,

 I sold my soul

            and kissed myself.