To be an infant... br With purity and innocence. br Without understanding or memory. br br To be a young child. br With little understanding and care-free charm. br Slowly decaying in purity. br Without burden or stress. br br To be a tween. br With acne, confusion and new-found self consciousness. br Without imaginary friends or long term future plans. br br To be a young adult. br With first love, friends and future plans. br Without true commitment, old friends or fond old memories. br br To be an adult. br With freedom, responsibility and life. br Without under-the-bed monsters, overdue homework, or parents to heal these childhood ailments. br br To be an elder. br With respect, experience and wisdom. br Without a full life ahead. br Soon to be freed by death.