Growing Up is Hard

Brigitte Hugh reading housing stuff for the Y 

Guys, growing up is hard!

Her grandmother’s riposte:

Guys, growing old is hard!

The hardest challenge I have faced

but I don’t want to burst her bubble.

Let her meet the challenges as they come

and find out for herself.

With this in mind,

somehow—either in a day or night dream—

I saw “power and potential” as a liquid in a quart jar.

This is my question:

When you are born, is the jar full of power and potential

  and as you grow

  the liquid gradually decreases

  until at the end of your life,

  the bottle is empty?

Or

Is the bottle empty when you are born

  and as you grow,

  the liquid (power and potential) gradually fills the bottle

  until at the end of your life,

  the bottle is full?

Tell me, please.