The poem describes the journey from youth to adulthood using the metaphor of a kite. It depicts childhood as carefree and fun, represented by activities like running outside and school dances. Adulthood brings responsibilities like careers, marriage and children that ground one's dreams. Technology also changes how people socialize. Though the kite becomes weathered, it can still fly in moments of nostalgia, showing how one can still find joy despite life's changes.

1. The Weathered Kite
Written By: Karen Pilarski
http://karenpilarski.blogspot.com

2. Youth is fleeting and yet
there is a lack of respect
and willingness to hold on
to it. At thirteen, dreams
of proms, weddings and
popularity send hopes sky
high as if kites flying
above.

3. Romantic strings connecting and intertwining
without a care in the world. Mismatched
shapes and bright kites sailed through the air.
Grass stained and scraped knees from
running along the grassy hills.

4. Bubble gum, sparkled nail polish and
short term crushes floated us through
the teenage years. Dreaming and
wishing about love and sex until it
actually happens.

5. Somehow between Jellies, Now and Later
candy and graduation there was a shift in
the air. Reality let out a gust of change
that blew the kite out of loose hands.

6. Twenties were a chance to
experiment and test new waters.
Self discovery through higher
education or just struggling to make
ends meat defined early adulthood.

7. Ups and downs in matters of the heart still
determined moods and actions.

8. Frosted tipped hair and treasure troll
collections were throwbacks to being a kid
at heart. Instead of Cabbage Patch Kids
store aisles amplified Tickle Me Elmo's
nauseating giggle.

9. Brain crushing hangovers were appropriate
reasons to stay in bed all day. Tequila breath
and blistered feet from dancing were just
nonchalant reminders of a night well spent.

10. Strangely thoughts of weddings and
careers sobered up the drunkest minds.

11. The warning sirens
sounded but over the
partying and working it
was muffled. Thirty hit
like a thunderbolt ripping
through the kite. By now
many acquaintances had

12. Those who didn't have those things listened to the
ticking of the biological clock and mother's
fingernails tapping impatiently. On top of that
school loans, mortgage payments and the simple task
of buying a gallon of milk became draining.

13. Instead of consoling over coffee with a friend
there was Facebook and Twitter. To catch up
to speed on family members and chums a
quick breeze through a stream did the trick.
Good friends no longer spoke over the phone
but texted instead.

14. The familiar feeling of crisp pages of a
newspaper was replaced with websites
and catchy tweets. While the world and
technology certainty evolved, the concept
of youth felt disillusioned between clicks
and status updates.

15. Media platforms dried up in drought like
fashion. While today's youth didn't seem to
mind, the situation was devastating to
writers who grew up in the 80's and 90's.

16. However, convenience shifted to
inconvenience. Backlash over
posts, terrified over online predators
and internet hacking created a dark
cloud above everyone.

17. No one had motivation or inkling to try flying
the kite again. Too many distractions such as
blinking, beeping and brazen messages cut the
stings that connected at one point.

18. Mid thirties appeared out of nowhere like a
rainbow after storms. The abandoned kite takes
flight and floats over soaked rooftops. There
was still pining for the free movement of being
a kid.

19. Slowly the clouds parted and thinking like
the skies became clearer. Newly formed
aspirations and dreams patched up holes
and rips.

20. Kids of yesterday and today have the
opportunity to move where ever the wind
takes them. Only if they hold onto strings
tightly. Once and awhile when nostalgia
hits, still run through the tall blades of grass
carefree.

21. Miraculously the
weathered and torn kite
still has the ability to
soar.

22. Karen Pilarski
My Blog is called “The Hearts Inner Workings.”
http://karenpilarski.blogspot.com
I can be reached at blueeditor79@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/KarenPilarski
Song: “September” By Doughtry