At sixteen
I should have said
maybe
it isn't love
but you're happy
and it's okay.
At sixteen
I should have said
you'll figure it out
and none of it really matters.
At sixteen
I should have said
don't panic
everything is fine
DON'T PANIC
At seventeen
I should have said
you're smart
you know how to live
and you don't need anyone
to prove that.
At seventeen
I should have said
you'll know how to have fun,
and nobody will have to show you how.
At seventeen
I should have said
you'll keep it together
and you won't need stitches.
At eighteen
I should have said
you'll like him
in a diner
at 2 am
where everybody laughs
and you don't remember
to be unhappy.
At eighteen
I should have said
alcohol won't fill you
you can only drink so much away
until there's nothing left.
At eighteen
I should have said
walk away.
Walk far away
and don't turn back.
At eighteen
I should have said
you'll be glad
you weren't in the car.
You'll miss your slippers,
but his neck
and the crumpled dash
won't be why
you leave.
At eighteen
I should have said
it's okay.
You can take a breath
and slow down.
You are going too fast
and you might crash.
At nineteen
I know to say
you'll have it figured out.
You'll like your music again
and you'll learn how to breath
and you'll figure out how to be happy.
At nineteen
I know to say
it's okay to love,
and to love a lot.
Love recklessly,
love your friends
and how they're around
every corner.
Love yourself.
That's most important.
You learn how to do that,
too.
At nineteen
I know to say
it's okay.
You're okay.
It's okay.
