When I was younger

I had a hunger

For all things new and strange

Fantastical worlds 

And sorcerer girls

And werewolves roaming the range

 

When it came down to the wire

My brain was on fire

And books were the constant fuel

I invented castles and moats

And dragonscale coats

And knights that would challenge and duel

 

Then a few years passed

The era didn't last

And now the world seems duller

The castles in my head

Are empty and dead

But with them, life felt fuller

 

In their places 

Are job applications

And the scores to standardized tests

I don't know what wrong

I used to be strong

But now all I want is to rest

 

Growing up has its perks

I can make money at work

And it feels strange that I can now drive

I'm responsible now

And now I know how

To pay when the bills arrive

 

But now that I'm older

My imagination's grown colder

And I know that something has changed

For when I was younger

I had a hunger

For all things new and strange