On the Next Child Prodigy

I don't begrudge a twelve year old
their wish to idolize
an artist of their own time-frame
with the same likes and sense of space
that come from being twelve a while.

But for adults to seek the same ---
to push aside their own age peers,
in some great quest for "the next big,"
neglect those like themselves

who've worked for years
to understand and know their craft
and bring to it a wealth of time ---
who treasure the precocious youth

that somehow came forth from the womb
with an "old soul" or some like crap,
who'd rather find a young maybe
than risk an older yes,

who stoop to conquer, so to speak,
their greedy eyes upon the prize
of novelty to hawk their wares,
it seems like pedophilia.

03 AUG 2007