The Boy, The Man (Short Version) [Poem]

He grew up in a world of softness.

He became an unnatural thing:
a little boy inside the body of a growing man.

He knew he had the best of all possible burdens.
And he was grateful,
though he was spiritually disfigured.

Within him grew a longing
to be purged of all that is soft!

This tension cannot last much longer!

The Boy or The Man:
one of them
must
DIE!

He left home!
Seeking foes and ordeals menacing enough
to make him strong.

But
He thought:
"all great frontiers have already been conquered,
so what use is there of tenacity and courage?" 

But
in that strange land he discovered:
The great frontier is ever-new. 

He entered the world of trials.

He was becoming the man he would be proud to be.

He knew he had the best of all possible blessings,
And he was grateful.