When I Was Seven

When I was seven
Swinging on the playground
My mother pushed me until
I could see the sky
And she whispered in my ear
Just before she let go
Enjoy being a child
It doesn't last long
And I never believed her
Because I knew that I was different
And nothing would ever change

When I was thirteen
Walking around the mall
With my best friend Jenny
I stole a necklace
And the rush got me so high
I never wanted to swing again
This is the best I've ever felt
Let's never grow old
And I trusted her
Jenny and I swore to be different
And promised to never change

When I was sixteen
On spring break in the woods
Sitting around the fire with a boy
I took my first swig of poison
It altered my judgment forever
I fell in love right then and there
I won't ever hurt you
Run away with me
And I embraced him
I thought he was different
But he broke me when he changed

When I was nineteen
On that smog covered street
With my college friends
I tried a hit of acid
Just to see what it was like
To taste music and hear color
What's life without living?
One time can't hurt
And I tripped with them
But my perspective was different
And I was slowly changing

When I was twenty
I stared up at the ceiling
Alone with a pen and paper
I almost wrote a poem for you
But the words didn't come out right
My mind was scrambled
What happened to the girl,
Who swore to never grow up?
And I hated myself
Suddenly I was completely different
And everything had changed.

Reviews

[J. Hampton]

A powerful write ... In it's candor
And it holds a taciturn message
That we all come face to face with
( if we are honest anyway )
Great use of continued thought...

Reminds me of a message board on a nearby
Churches front lawn..( it says )
" Feel God is far away .. Ask yourself ...Who really moved ?

[Anicca]

What a wonderful concept... I had never thought of it like that but its oh so sadly true. Innocence and naivity are too short lived. Again, beautifully written. I think you have found yourself a fan in me :)

[Emily B]

powerful and hard-hitting poetry

[Saraplenty]

This was really brilliant. I am quite curious to see what the other decades will bring you.

[Judy Ponceby]

Strong and powerful write Sarah. Sad the realities of life can be so harsh to change us so as we go along.

[Jeremy Wyatt]

A real cogent flow to this, an enaging read, and enlightening too x

[Yo Diggity]

Some people go their whole lives without ever acknowledging that they've changed. Can you imagine? Ignorance is not bliss. I know this poem was intended to sound bleak...but if anything I'd find it empowering. Life is short...and if we aren't willing/capable of observing our own growth...and there isn't a god watching from above to grade us {there might be}. What would be the point?

[ALiteRead]

Change is the only constant...
and yet, we desperately try to hold on to what we are.(were?)
Very well written, I could feel it.

[Silence]

Great work! You could have gone all the way to 100 if you wanted to hehe. Giving each age group its own stanza made the whole poem seem faster paced, which is a very good thing. Keep it up!

[Erinne S.]

Wow this was really powerful and personal.
I liked how you kept the age progression going, it adds to the piece.

Good job!