The patina of weathering
Shows the passage of time,
Yet we hope to maintain
Our innocence
Our delight
Our enthusiasm for life.
Life that consumes our energy,
Hones our ambitions,
Molds our beliefs,
and Hardens our convictions,
Until we dream again.
Dreams of a new-found love
Of people,
Of art, and
Of rest
When our weary souls
Hold onto the vestige of a childhood
Caught in suspended animation…
If only in our minds.
I loved this sculpture when I saw it in Dublin, on the corner across from a grand church with a stone foot bridge over the road that was the inspiration for another poem. It was so whimsical and carefree in its composition, yet showing wear from the years and the weather. It spoke to me of how often we try to hold onto the simplicity of youth as our bodies show the toll life takes.