I was watching a film the other day. There was a burial scene. These words were spoken as the ashes were sprinkled. They’re from The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, verse 11
When I was a child, I spake as a child,
I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away
childish things. For now we see through a
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known.
It got me thinking about what is childish and what isn’t. As we get older we are expected to behave in an adult way of course, but our emotions can still be child like. We know this, so have to suppress them. We are encouraged from time to time not to take ourselves too seriously and to be more childlike (but not too much..) This poem is about this suppression:-
Don’t Let the Child out
Freeze up the feelings to stop the drip dripping,
Filter the words and stop them from slipping
Bite back the anger that’s burning inside
Bury emotions you’re trying to hide.
Lie to yourself and pretend you don’t care
Dodge from the spotlight of life’s tragic stare.
Just rise above it – prove you are better
Follow this formula down to the letter
Only wear adult size stiff upper lip
Try to be sensible – don’t let this slip
Even when really you just want to shout
Stop all from seeing you let the child out.
© Lynda M Roberts 2010
Image by the imaginative children’s photographer Ann Geddes. This image here
Bookstains 
The slip of a stiff upper lip… amazing ideas when lines combine. The poem is wise, well written—and fitting that the epistle is from a burial scene.
Thanks Adam 🙂 I love that epistle – it speaks of a long ago childhood
I woonder sometimes if we should let the child out…just long enough to breathe and to help maintain a healthy mental balance. 🙂 Enjoyed your poem.
Thanks slpmartin 🙂 yes, ‘balance’ should be the order of the day – but it’s so hard to maintain:)
Thanks for stopping by appreciated.