Thank you to Agron Shele of Atunis Galaxy for publishing my "what if" poem.

Sweet 16

How would human behavior change

if our life expectancy was significantly decreased 

to the set age of 16?

Would there be greed if a want went beyond basic needs,

knowing full well they can’t take it with them?

We only imagine as adults

that sometimes we have reached another.

In this shorter life, would we finally begin 

to understand each other as only children do?

There would be the same sadness of lost days,

just not as many,

and each reminisce would be just as deeply felt,

at the bend of each year,

as the end draws closer.

Yet, I also imagine

that these children will study shadows

to learn the truth of light,

a wonderful, mystic light 

shining on each kid’s unique ties to others.

And, to childhood’s end,

there would be an unusual intensity of seeing, 

in love itself, a transformational magic

that only the young can create.