Neonate, Infant, Child and Adult

A spark of breath, the first small cry,

A neonate blinks beneath the sky.

Wrapped in warmth, so frail, so new,

The world a canvas, the senses few.

Hands that tremble, voices near,

A fragile heart that learns to hear.

In that moment, pure and brief,

Life begins its endless leaf.

The infant grows, with curious eyes,

Discovering color, earth, and skies.

Soft babble turns to laughter’s tone,

A tiny world becomes their own.

Steps unsteady, but bold, they fall,

Yet rise again, they answer the call.

Milk to solid, cradle to floor,

Every day unlocks a door.

The child emerges, bright and free,

Running wild with boundless glee.

Questions bloom like morning flowers,

Imagination builds new towers.

Schoolyard games, the scribbled art,

Dreams unformed within the heart.

In innocence and playful song,

They find where hopes and wishes belong.

Then comes the adult, steady and tall,

Carrying burdens, hearing the call.

Responsibilities weigh like stone,

Yet courage grows when faced alone.

The laughter softens, the eyes grow wise,

Stories linger, truth never dies.

Love is chosen, work is done,

Battles fought and victories won.

From neonate to infant’s cheer,

From childhood’s dawn to grown-up years,

Life is a circle, vast, complete,

Each stage a rhythm, a pulse, a beat.

And in each phase, both small and grand,

We learn to live, to love, to stand.