Poetry from the Mind of a Youth

GrowthFor the person I was, the person I am, and the person I hope to become

We all blossom in different ways:

at the waist, in the brain,

in emotion, devotion.

Innocence and purity

once were a huge part of me

eyes shut tight,

keeping out the plight

of the world,

not knowing

where my path was going.

There was no hope and fear,

only I was there

and now I'm here.

Point A to point B,

unaware of C to Z,

Alpha to Zeta.

Then the blossom that was everything I was

began to grow...

I learned pain and distrust,

love and loyalty,

but the pain struck like lightning,

the fear festering like an open wound,

distrust eating at my very soul like a pack of ravenous wolves.

My mind became as dark as the crow's feathers.

I felt alone in a room of many.

My blossom began to wilt.

More time passes,

moving up through the classes,

grades and hoping to make A's.

I had come to know stress,

became a mess,

was overwhelmed,

and felt like I was in hell.

Fast forward to recent,

with a bit TLC I felt decent.

My blossom became less flaccid,

but my words become acid.

Thorns to hide my heart,

protect it,

to keep out all.

But was that what I truly wanted?

No, no.

I wanted to be in a garden.

I wanted to be full of life.

I wanted to be full of hope,

wanted to let my blossom grow.

Now, I hope to be

bright and vivid,

cheerful,

beautiful.

The world should see who I am,

not someone I pretend to be.

Guarding my heart

is not what's best for me.

I need to bloom

and spread my branches.

I need to blossom.