Neverland

Ashley Lepre

Congratulations Peter Pan!

You never did become a man.

Obligation, so restrained-

Thank god you managed to remain

avoiding, for you knew you must,

the tragedy of love and trust.

Tucked away in Neverland,

away from duty and command,

through cunning skill and crafty talk,

you managed to defeat the clock.

Thank god you never did become

as miserable and sad as some.

The Darlings! There’s a tale of tears,

of growing up and wasted years.

Like Wendy, married! With a son.

So long to freedom, bye to fun!

And John, a husband! Lord above!

Please save him from this cursed love!

And Michael, oh that guiltless boy;

he’s drowning in success and joy.

But you, you’ve not been touched or phased

and frankly I am quite amazed.

They fell astray, but what to do?

Not everyone can be like you.

You watched her soar and watched her fly

then shot her down and watched her die.

And once her body hit the ground

you tried to fix the thing you’d found.

Too scared to change or to confess

you built a house around your mess.

Abandoned in these far off lands.

Don’t touch her with your dirty hands!

You’d have no time to love a wife,

you’ve got a pretty busy life,

with vicious mermaids! Pirates! Gore!

and evil villains famous for

a hook atop a missing fist

and other things that don’t exist.

And now you’re who you want to be.

Liberated! Fruitful! Free!

You’ve risen to some wondrous heights,

middle-aged and dressed in tights.

“I won’t grow up! I’ll stay a kid!”

Well, here’s to you, you never did.