Poetic Tales - A Folklore-Inspired Poetry Collection

ONLY SEVENTEEN

ONLY SEVENTEEN

(Inspired By the song, "Betty)" by Taylor Swift

[If James was a poet]

So much for assumptions

About you switching homerooms

Thinking it might just be –

All because of me

Riding on my skateboard

Passing by your house

In that one time –

I felt like I couldn't breathe

Felt all the sinking feeling

From the rumors, you kept hearing

From the same old Inez -

That you can't believe a word she says

Most times, she's unreliable

But this time she's believable

The worst thing I ever did was true –

And most of all, I did that to you

So if I show up at your party -

Would you still have me?

Or would you tell me off –

And kick me out of your house?

Would I still have you believing -

If I tell you it was just a summer thing?

Only seventeen not knowing everything

But you're still the one I'm missing

I knew where it all went wrong

While the playing of your favorite song

From the far side of the gym

I saw you dance with him

You know I hate crowds

My silence was too loud

But I can't change the fact it was true

The worst thing I ever did was to you

If I show up at your party-

Would you still want me?

Or tell me goodbye –

Without looking through my eye?

Walking through broken cobblestones

Thoughts of missing you in my bones

Then when I saw her drive -

All the memories came back alive

She pulled up in the excitement

Showed up like this old figment -

Of my worst impulsive intentions

And never one of my best decisions

Turning those days into nights

Those drunken thoughts and fights

Felt guilt and shame

Shouldn't have played that game

Can't help feeling sick

So much for being a prick

Slept next to her but think of you

All summer long I dreamt of you

So here I am by your doorstep

All the weeks I had in prep

Making all the planning

But just now it's finally in sinking

I can only dream this one last time

Apologizing for my worst crime

And imagine what happens when -

You get to see my face again

The only thing I want to do –

Is to make it up to you

So I hope you'd have me once more

As I'm right here standing by your door

So I showed up at your party

Will you have me?

Will you love me once more?

And kiss me right by your porch or front door?

In front of all your friends in waiting -

Will you kiss me just like what I've been dreaming?

Will you still have me with all my feelings?

And let me patch your broken wings?

So much for missing you

The thought of losing you

So I hope you see me through

And believe how much I still love you

The hardest time it has been

I am only seventeen

I don't even know anything-

But missing you who is my everything

Standing on your cardigan

Kissing in my car again

Stopping by the street light

You know with you, everything feels so right

Artwork by Lymuelle