When you start telling people,
‘Mind how you go,’
As they leave your apartment,
That’s how you know
You’re an adult, you made it,
You’re now fully fledged,
But be careful, won’t you?
This sword’s double-edged-
Now all your crushes
Are men and not boys,
Now you think most
Modern music’s ‘just noise,’
You’re no stranger to
Sunday Night Anxiety,
And can’t function without
At least one cup of tea-
You now have opinions
On houses and décor,
Things matter now
That didn’t before,
Politics, finances,
Global issues,
Your conscience is frequently
Bogged down by news-
Now you are in charge
Of your daily routine,
But you’re also in charge
Of keeping things clean,
Washing up, hoovering,
Mopping the floor,
For each mess you tidy,
You just create more-
There are drawbacks to
Quitting your parents’ care,
Because if you didn’t buy something,
Then it’s not there,
Paracetamol, sun cream,
A new baking tray,
Where do you
Buy coat hangers anyway?
No one ever tells you,
You figure it out,
You learn by doing,
And when in doubt
Go scurrying back
To your parents’ nest,
It’s true what they say:
Mother does know best.
Is there ever a time
When we truly feel
That we know what we’re doing?
That we’re able to deal
With the trials and
Challenges of adulthood?
When we abandon
Our inner child for good?
Well I’m not yet thirty,
I’ve a long way to go,
But so far the answer
Appears to be no,
From coming of age
To our deathbed,
We are all forever young
In our own head.
