Secrets

A child keeps no secrets

From her parents

Not because she

Feels comfortable confiding

With those busy adults

Who managed to find time to

Bless the world with her existence

She tells them everything she knows,

Everything she has done,

The extra chocolate or cookie she ate

The day she forgot her math homework

She tells these to her parents

Because she feels it's her duty

Because she's afraid and thinks

Telling them is better than

Them finding out

She leaves childhood and is now

In the world between childhood and

Adulthood

The time of growing up

Where bruises are no longer of skin

But heart

Theft is not of pretty pencil or eraser

But love

Where lies are not about having an extra cookie

But who did what and with whom

And she learns the art of

Keeping secrets

From them,

The parents who are suddenly finding time to

Watch carefully

Observe her every move, every word

And she hides away stories about those

Kisses, cigarettes and booze

She doesn't tells them where she's been

Dates are shrugged off as

'Hanging out with friends'

So no one panics, scolds or punishes

And forces her to

Skip the stage of growing up

Where mistakes are made

New things are discovered

Explorations and experiments are enjoyed

And secrets are kept

Finally, a grownup

She sees the world in a new light

She loves less fiercely, maybe

But much more deeply

She feels a billion emotions

But has them under control

She now goes back to habit of childhood

And shares with her parents

Her life,

No more are secrets kept

That skill learnt while growing up

Not forgotten, but put away for the time being

And she confides with them

Not out of fear

Or obligation

But because

She wants someone to listen and who could understand better

Than a parent?

She looks at her own gift to the world

A little boy, in that age where no

Secrets are kept

A boy who runs to her crying,

Saying he broke her favorite mug

And would she forgive him

And now, that skill acquired

When growing up

It comes to the surface again

Dusted and put into use again

For now,

Secrets are kept

Not to hurt or decieve

But to keep safe,

Her children,

Her innocent, naive children,

From the evils and cruel ways of life

From the mistakes she has made

From the world in between

Childhood and adulthood

When secrets are kept by the one growing up

And the adult, parent