by Tod Christensen
She was strolling through her memories one day
passing by her childhood and her friends she would play.
She rounded the corner to her teenage years
and winced at the moments that had brought her to tears.
After her teens she entered the young adult block
where she had to take an honest look at herself and take stock.
Falling in love was what everyone expected and she fell
but it wasn’t really love and time would tell.
Sure there would be some happiness and the children she adored
but life wasn’t what it should be and that fact she clearly ignored.
She saw herself buying into all the false gods
trying to find happiness with the external and facades.
She watched herself become someone she didn’t even know
gone was her self-confidence from long ago.
She saw herself trying her best to conform
and when she didn’t, oh how it brought on the storm.
The marriage ended mercifully but painfully as well,
at that low moment she covered up and went into her shell.
But then something truly amazing occurred
because in her mind and her heart something had stirred.
She remembered who she was and was always meant to be
strength, beauty, grace and kindness was she.
She began to live the life she should have always had;
it’s never too late and her heart was now glad.
She smiled as she passed through the next decade or two
she saw all the memories and the time and how it flew.
Her only regret now was that she wished she could explain
to her beautiful self that time would eventually drain.
How every day and moment is precious and quick,
and to stop wasting time as the clock steadily tics.
She wished she could shake herself and wished she had talked
to herself as she neared the end of the journey she walked.