burnout era

i miss being clever for my age.

the surprised looks of my older peers

when i knew things they didn’t expect me to.

but now i am expected to know so much,

how to apply this knowledge,

how to blow people away.

i didn’t apply to the ivy leagues,

why would i? i can not offer nearly as much

as the other kids my age, those kids that

didn’t grow out of their wit and charm.

i think the carefree nature of childhood

allowed the intelligence to slip it

but my ever growing fear and dread

have now replaced it.

i miss being clever for my age.