More than 400 years ago, English playwright William Shakespeare wrote about the "Seven Ages of Man"--the changing roles we play on the stage of life before taking our final curtain call. This collection of 21 poems, compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins, explores those 7 ages, offering voices and perspectives that are as varied as they are sage. From a Nigerian lullaby to the verses of such contemporary poets as Janet S. Wong, these poems--paired with masterful artwork by Guy Billout--laugh, cry, and sing to celebrate the theater of human existence.