How I yearn for the sweet days of my youth br when life was in the now and carefree as a breeze. br When an unknown future stretched out it's hand br beckoning me to follow my hopes and dreams. br Then.... everything seemed within easy reach br and time was an exciting never-ending journey, br to be filled with all the things I planned to do br and where I would become who I wanted to be. br br I imagined the life I thought I wanted to have, br the scenarios of which there were many. br The excitement at the dawn of each new day br not knowing where that day would lead me. br With the beauty and health that youth enjoys br and seeing the world with fresh clear eyes, br I thought that anything was possible, br that everything would be so easy to devise. br br In the innocence of life's experience we soon learn br that the path we travel is not an easy one. br With many a twist and turn and few signs of direction, br we find we can also meet with trickery and deception. br As we set out on that journey in those early years br we are full of wonderment and elation, br feeling a sense of freedom, we have a world to explore br with youth's enthusiasm and hopeful anticipation. br br The journey along the path of knowledge and experience br slowly and unknowingly erodes our innocence, br causing youth's spark to dwindle and fade, br until youth is erased with adulthood's presence. br I'm not unhappy with the paths I've taken br and the life I live now is a good one in truth. br But I miss youth's expectancy and exuberant spark br How I yearn for the sweet days of my youth.