Growing Up

She will hold on

to simplicity that will be past.

She will hold on

to childhood happiness.

She will hold on

to all the coloring she thought was hard.

She will hold on

to 17 years old,

the life she will have left behind.

"Goodbye, my childhood,"

she will say.

"Forever in my past

you will stay."

Her voice will break,

she'll turn away.

She'll hug her stuffed pup.

She'll sing a child's song,

in the hopes that

she can hold on.

But in this moment,

she knows nothing of goodbye.

In this moment,

she plays with her stufffed pup.

In this moment,

she dances to a children's song.

Her voice so small,

it breaks on high notes.

She giggles while she skips,

while she plays,

while she sings.

I hope that in time,

she may find good in the real world.

I hope that in time,

she may enjoy growing up.

But I hope that in time,

she does not forget the child she is.

She, with her beautiful compassion,

intelligence beyond compare,

honesty when it doesn't hurt another,

tears for another's loss,

joy for another's gain,

love for everyone in the world.