Time

In the course of time we learn to walk,
We learn to talk to laugh and sing,
We learn ride a bicycle
We learn the joys that childhood brings.

We learn the phases of the moon,
We learn the names of stars above,
We learn how butterflies are born,
But most of all we learn of love.

In the course of time we go to school
We learn the symmetries of math,
We learn the power found in words,
We learn to follow our own path.

We learn the heat of love's first kiss,
The pride and shame of right and wrong,
We learn what friendship truly means
And what it takes to get along.

In the course of time we learn of war,
The transience of human life,
We learn what obligation means
And of the spiral path of strife.

Eventually we learn to give,
To value something more than "me",
We learn lap time and nap time too,
And how to raise a family.

In the course of time we learn of work,
Consistent and unfailing deeds,
Reliability and worth,
And sorting out our wants and needs.

We learn as well to handle loss,
The loss of loved ones held so dear,
But also loss of face and pride
And loss of youth, and loss of fear.

In the course of time we learn of ends,
We learn what reasons might have been,
We learn to face mortality
And long to do it all again.

In the course of time - we learn...