13 doesn't last forever

The Poetry Challenge writing to my 13 year old self.

thirteen doesn't last
forever,

you have so much
more ...

i know they
tease you,
tell you
you're not worth
the skin you're in

i know you feel
empty,
friendless,
abandoned and
alone,

but things will
get better,

and there is a lot
you've left to do

not gonna lie,
it isn't easy,
and there's lots
of bumps
along the way.

but you will have
love and joy,
and family --
two little ones
to share your light,

so put the razor
down,

it is not a good
day to die.

Author's Note

captcha hemostat -- now that is just creepy.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful words and thoughts. !3 years old. I believe woman are thinking more than the boys. I like the tone to the words. A realistic feel.
"so put the razor
down, "
Good advice in the above lines. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Lyn Anderson]

I know you understand. Thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear friend.

[Rene Salinas]

Oh brother, what a reminder this and I can't remember if it was thirteen I was to busy looking for drugs to remember other people but I think I must have met someone with this kind of dynamic presented here. Is that moment of adolescent dissociation and it isso tough as if your self leaves God only knows where and you feel truly alone. With no other choice but to exert some kind of control you open wounds to see what's inside.

Adolescence is a whirlwind

Thankyou

[Lyn Anderson]

I take a philosophy I once read in a Stephen King book -- to paraphrase "anyone who likes their teen years is insane."

[MusicManiac]

It is really repulsive how some kids act towards each other--and for what reason? There's such a fine line between young & innocent and young & cruel...

You wrote a very heartfelt piece and I thank you for taking up the challenge! It makes me so happy to read these poems and know that others are in a much better place than they used to be and I hope that it gives other people hope as well.

On a side note, the seventh stanza reminds me a bit of Langston Hughes' poem "Mother to Son" in your choice of diction, but actually, your whole poem has that same feeling of--for lack of a better word--perseverance!

Thank you for sharing this piece--it was wonderfully written!

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. As soon as I saw it I had to write thank you.

[MusicManiac]

You're very welcome :)

[h d e rushin]

my school teacher friend tells me that her hardest task is convincing Black boys to return to school
for the 9th grade. That it takes a serious sell job to tell a person with such a tiny past, that there
will be a future worth noting. A wonderful, and yet reflective write KL...dana

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, it is hard to imagine things will ever be different. And truthfully, there will be many more days of heartache, but if we muddle through the joy will outweigh the pain.

[MomzillaNC]

Oi! Really? You're captcha was "hemostat" for this one? Yes, that IS creepy.

This is very powerful. But, isn't it great to see how far you've come and how much you've overcome. Isn't it a blessing to see how much you've gained? I found, looking back for my own answer to this challenge, that to recognize how close I came, so many times… well, it's just filled me with so much gratitude for what I have now.

[Lyn Anderson]

I agree. Suicide of young people is really the greatest tragedy of our modern society. We think we can't live another day, but when we do, we come out the other side much stronger.

[MomzillaNC]

My Gran (and I agree) always thought the key was to keep them busy. You don't read stories about teen suicides from the pioneers. And, from this distant place of age, I can see that the kids who made it through without the morose romance of suicide were the ones whose lives were filled with activities (school, dance, church, Rainbow Girls, scouts, music, etc.). All teens suffer from teen angst; but, it seems to me, the busy ones don't have time for suicidal bouts. And, they don't get into the trouble that teens with too much time on their hands find themselves falling into.

[Lyn Anderson]

I wish that were true. At least four people I know who killed themselves were busy academically and with extracurriculars.

[MomzillaNC]

IDK. Given my Gran's example of pioneers (she wasn't a pioneer), and the personal model she knew growing up, maybe the key is hard work. Gran grew up working the tobacco field in the mornings -- then off to school; the pecan orchard in the afternoons -- then home for chores; and one of the family stores in the evening -- then back home for homework, evening chores, and bed. She never had a moment when she wasn't too busy to have time to think of suicide.

[Lyn Anderson]

I definitely think that is a huge thing. I know myself when I am physically working thoughts of self are pushed to the back. I use physical work to clear my mind.

[MomzillaNC]

Maybe we need to keep the teens so busy they have no time for suicidal reflection.

[Matching Socks]

Yeah, I suppose if there's something to be bad at, suicide would be a good thing to pick.
It's hard, it was hard then, it's hard now. But we cope better. Now our job is take make sure our kids make it through. Good one, really felt this one.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. It was a rough time. My bullies thought it would be fun to circulate a petition. "If you think she is ugly, worthless, and should kill herself, sign here." All but one girl and 6 boys did not sign. Kids are impossibly cruel to one another sometimes.

[Matching Socks]

It's hard... heartbreaking.
hugs xo

[therisa]

KL, your poem is, for too many of us, our past, we grew up with. Myself, I was running away from home, besides, the suicide attempts, being bullied and Death Valley level of self-esteem. Sadly, my fifthteenth year, was even worse, for me, my summer from Hell. Thank you, for sharing part of your past, with us.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you so much. Bullies can kill. I am glad I wasn't good at one thing anyway.:)

[therisa]

Your welcome, KL. You're good, at surviving, which many didn't do.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very poignant piece of reminiscance that has an honest breath to it. One small issue, I would not have used ain't as it changes the feel of the piece.

[Lyn Anderson]

I think you are right, my friend.

[realmwriter]

I don't think tomorrow would be a good day to die either. And yes, that captcha is really creepy, as is this piece. I don't know the pain this speaks to because I've never quite been there. But I do know that whatever the pain, it can heel and it will eventually get softer and softer until it's gone. Wonderful piece KL.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[realmwriter]

You are very welcome.