But now I am mostly at the window watching the late afternoon light. Back then it never fell so solemnly against the side of my tree house, and my bicycle never leaned against the garage as it does today, all the dark blue speed drained out of it.
This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself, as I walk through the universe in my sneakers. It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends, time to turn the fi rst big number.
It seems only yesterday I used to believe there was nothing under my skin but light. If you cut me I would shine. But now if I fall upon the sidewalks of life, I skin my knees. I bleed.
1. Who is the speaker of this poem? What age and gender are they, do you think?
2. Name two imaginative things the speaker liked to do as a young child.
3. Explain the following words from the poem, using a dictionary if necessary: psyche
disfiguring complexity solemnly 4. Choose your favourite image from the poem and explain why you chose it.
5. What do you think is the theme of this poem? Choose from the options here or come up with one of your own. Defend your choice to a classmate by explaining why you chose it.
loss new beginnings imagination youth 6. Did you like this poem? Give a reason for your answer. innocence REMEMBER:
A theme is the subject of the poem, what it’s all about, the ideas or emotions that unite the whole poem.
