To tell the truth, I’ve had some lonely nights,
an adolescence frustrating and long,
a prime so stressed and busy that delights
were interrupted, sacrificed to strong
responsibilities, or else occurred
but didn’t meet anticipation then.
Oh there were dismal times, but rest assured,
I ricocheted to happiness again.

It helped to want to walk and long to write.
Selecting homes where no one needs a car
meant gracious neighborhoods. And with the height
of self-esteem my goal and guiding star,
I grew from mostly glad to gladly well,
but it took years to get here, truth to tell.