When it fits, AGE HITS
PEOPLE TELL ME I’M NOT ALIGNED WITH MY ACTUAL AGE.
BUT NEVER BOTHERED MY PARENTS -
THOUGH FELT THE UNSPOKEN WEIGHT OF COMPLAINT.
DEEP DOWN, NEVER LIVED LIKE A YOUNGSTER;
CIRCUMSTANCES ADORNED ME IN ADULTHOOD,
A NUMBER HEAVIER THAN MY BONES.
I USED TO CARRY THE ROOM’S SILENCE LIKE A DEBT I HAD TO PAY.
I WAS THE ARCHITECT OF SAFETY,
THE CHILD WHO FORGOT TO SWAY.
I AM OUTGROWING THE “STRONG ONE”
TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE “HAPPY ONE”
I WAS SUPPOSED TO FIND,
BUT THE ARMOUR HAS GOTTEN TOO SMALL.
WHETHER REALIZATION, GRIEF, OR SORROW,
THEY BEGAN TO SAUNTER WITH ME.
GRIEF AND UNDERSTANDING VOYAGED SIDE BY SIDE.
WHAT I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT BEFORE
NOW IT BEGINNETH TO LIVE—
FULLY, FREELY.
YOU MAY ASK, WHY?
I NOTICED A NATURAL SHIFT:
BIGGER, STEADIER, MORE MATURE.
NO NEED TO TINGE MY SURROUNDINGS WITH PLAYFUL THINGS.
I NO LONGER PLAY TO WIN OR TO PROVE—
I PLAY TO ENJOY,
TO ERR,
AND TO GUFFAW AT MY OWN ERRORS.
THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT WITH TIME,
NOR A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PAST.
IT IS A WONDER WITHIN,
UNASHAMED.
SLOWLY, I AM ARRIVING AT MY ACTUAL AGE.
THIS DOESN’T MEAN I’M BECOMING A CHILD;
I HONOR MY INNER CHILD—
WITH RAPPORT,
WITHOUT GUILT.
WE ARE NOT BROKEN;
WE NEED TO LISTEN WITH A FIERCE FONDNESS.
GROWING UP TEACHES ENDURANCE.
GROWING FREELY TEACHES GRACE.
WE ARE LEARNING TOGETHER.
JOY SPEAKS LOUDEST
WHEN IT IS UNAFRAID.
SOME LIVES BEGIN EARLY.
SOME BEGIN HONESTLY—
WHEN THEY STOP PERFORMING SURVIVAL.
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