Innocence

How do you make innocence stay

How can you capture

How can you hold something so frail

Can you seal it up

In glass and steal

Can you take its picture

Frame it fast before it fades
How do you keep this smile
Pure and sweet
Cold winter’s breath
How do you make it new
Make the light shine
The whole flower bloom

The ocean’s voice reminds

I am smaller still

Than the day before

Every moment I give in

Every compromise

And tiny white lie

How can you make innocence stay

Fleeting as the morning shadows
I cannot stay forever
In the precious silence
Where dark and light are equally love

Where there is no fear

And there is no hate
How can I capture
Make it real and now
My child soul saved
Maybe much has been taken
And more I have willingly given out
But if I can choose
If I can see the chance
To keep what is left
I’ll make the choice
To know a little less
To laugh sincere
To cry to feel to hurt
To walk arms open and eyes closed
Held by the wind
Warmed by the sun
My heart will beat strong
My feet will stand tall
Closer to whole
And stronger to love
How, I ask once again,

How do you make innocence stay

6-15-99