Lesson in Reality

I once saw a girl, hope in her eyes,
Childish dreams of good things in mind.
Too young to know of pain and strife,
Till time went by and so did her life.
The hope and sparkle that once I saw
Now all gone, every bit of it - all!
The light inside had dimmed with age -
The burning light now sparked by the rage.
Sickened by people, their actions and way,
Her outlook had changed, life's not a play.
Now she could see - her young visions weren't real.
As life progressed she saw what revealed.
With age comes wisdom, but truth you must seek,
And once it is found the outlook is bleak.
What happened to her? In her eyes I can see.
Those eyes I looked at, that face, was me.