Growing up can take its toll. It’s not always easy to understand what’s occurring in your life.

At times, you feel all alone. But then something amazing happens. And you know you’re not, as you will see in . . .

My Special Angel

I’m trembling,

but I don’t know why.

She tells me

I shouldn’t be scared,

but I am.

I want to believe her—

my wonderful, special angel.

She has never let me down,

but this seems different.

I can’t put my finger on it—

it’s so hard to describe.

With dark, black clouds overhead,

gray shadows pervade my world.

Graceful ghostlike figures dance

to a tune I’m unable to hear.

They motion to me to join them,

to become a part of their show.

The trembling gets worse,

tears form in my eyes.

I want to run away

and hide from the things

I don’t understand and can’t explain.

But my angel tells me I must not.

“It’s just part of growing up,”

she declares.

“You have to face your demons,

conquer your fears,

and develop into a strong person.”

“But I’m only twelve years old,”

I cry out in frustration.

“I know,” she says,

placing her hands on my shoulders,

as she turns to go back

to the front of the classroom.

Copyright © 2016 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.

So you want to be a big shot. “I’m the man,” you say. “I’m destined for greatness.”

The world, as you see it, is yours to control. But sometimes, life has a way of knocking your feet out from under you when you least expect it, as will become apparent in

. . . art History

Let me paint a picture of what my life was from the start.

It will be a portrait I am sure will touch your heart.

Putting brush to canvass, on our magnificent journey, we will now depart.

I had a mission to accomplish, to be better than others, to stand apart.

From the outset, on life’s great stage, I was not satisfied with playing a bit part.

I had to be strong, knowledgeable, and aware, so others, I would be able to     

     outsmart.

In the center of the canvass, I will paint a large circle that will become a pie chart,

A breakdown of the key sectors of my world, the information I wish to impart.

I will divide this circle into four areas, the first being brilliance, that is, how I  

     became so smart.

Committed to being better than my peers in school, my performance was off 

     the chart.

While intelligence played the major role in my quest for superiority, athleticism  

     became its counterpart.

A standout in sports from an early age, whether at football, baseball, or track, 

     I always had a head start.

To complement these first two components, I was strong of will and able to  

     handle all challenges—a true lionheart.                                             

Now some called me a showoff and others a braggart, but my strength of 

     character would not let me fall apart.

And finally, one cannot be counted a true success without being handsome 

     beyond reproach, and I was a true work of art.

This was all so perfect, until one day, in my eighth grade class, I bent over and 

     let out a loud fart.

Copyright © 2018 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.