A Man

seeing you again as a man,
when i knew you as young--
knew you as growing out of
boy epidermis.
i saw you
and you were fully grown,
your physicality
had nothing left
to conquer.

i knew you
when we were both newer
to the world
and could operate a few things,
but mostly did not fully
understand
how to manage
our organs
that filled with emotions.
my cup was not full
of wisdom,
it was decent for my age
but i would gain much
in the coming years.

and you were harsh
in your behavior,
you were thoughtless
and pretty honest
about this.
but i was still learning
to not be a child
and i would let myself
be swayed
by intriguing qualities
even if they had chains
and weights
attached.

and i remember you
like a porcelain doll,
polished
and not yet
very muddled with.
now you're a little more worn,
but with advantage--
you have learned much
from the tools
that grated
on your edges.

you were a boy
and full of youthful
empty space
that would eventually fill with
things about you
that would grow,
but you were in that restaurant
and you were a man--

you were a man.