“Happy Birthday” the world screams.

I am legal but not sure what that means.

Twenty-one but I don’t feel older.

I don’t feel wiser or shyer or bolder.

I don’t feel

All grown up.

And I certainly don’t feel as responsible

As the law has decided I that I am on this day,

Of all days, today,

And like you I abide by their rules;

Blindly follow what they say

Though I don’t feel any different at all today.

Perhaps I “grew up” a long time ago.

And, if so,

As the years come and go,

Experience comes, and memories grow,

Will my eyes, my soul

remain unchanged?

I am twenty-one.

I’m young

And I certainly don’t expect

you to respect

me,

myself,

or what is mine.

Because I am young,

To you, my life has just begun

And I want, I want to become undone

And to scream to you that I AM someone

And expect you to apologize

And recognize

Me.

But alone

I am clinging to myself

And yearning to cling to something else.

I read the bible and I didn’t understand it.

I prayed to God and He didn’t understand me.

I tried to heal, cried to cope,

I lost my faith, replaced that faith with hope

And I lose my hope sometimes

And I replace it with humility,

Charity,

Love for humanity.

And as you may know:

Hope, like a seed, grows

As precious life goes and goes.

Young.

Life is a song to be sung,

A game to be won,

Or perhaps just a task to be done

And to what hope can we cling

As we do, play, or sing

But to one another,

Sisters and brothers?

Because though I am young

This world has stung me,

Shunned me,

All but outdone me, this world has.

To you, my friends and family,

Fighting through humanity

Alongside me:

Hold me, guide me,

For this world is harsh and mighty

And alone we cannot win the fight, we

Share

This burden we bear

Together,

With care.

You and I, friend,

Wherever you are.

Everywhere.

Yes, I am young

But our lives have just begun

And as you take my hand

Another war is won.