I smile
At the selfishness of a child
Not that they are selfish
But at their sense of self
They only know themselves
And what they feel
They are not intimidated
The world is just for them
Quite right too
Welcome to the world
And what is real
But sense of self diminishes
As the wide world rushes in
And we retreat to shyness
Aware of our within
And making friends will help us
Restore equality
And make our way in confidence
To lose it is a sin
Life’s journey throws up challenges
Some take us by surprise
And we are shaken many a time
By the look in others’ eyes
And some give in to selfishness
There seems no other way
Until we find the child again
And the child will have his say
Brian Fahy
6 February 2022
+ Watching my grandsons teaches me about a child’s powerful sense of self. I am all I know at that age. It is a terrific sense of self. I also remember walking the streets of Liverpool one time and meeting young children and asking their names. One child was so young her answer to my question was, ‘I’m me.’ So are we all.
Erris Poetry 