May closes with a soft slap of the wrist,
reminding me that I am silly for thinking this is forever.
May finds a way to quietly go away - but...
may I stay?
Here. Forever.
Transfixed by the ripple of the tea
with every whirl and twirl of my spoon.
Fresh, fine spearmint.
Nothing but Billie Holiday -
and the dwindling of May.
In warm comfort -
I disregard tomorrow's dismay.
And when they ask my age, I reply: "last-teen."
Fresh, fine youth.
But with a fading crackle the record stops.
In time, the mug empties.
What a shame.
I just want this feeling to be...
lasting. lasting. last-teen.
-
Author:
Rocky Lagou (
Offline) - Published: May 21st, 2025 01:04
- Comment from author about the poem: At 19, I am terrified of what awaits me in the future. There will no longer be a "-teen" slapped at the end of my age. But I am making sure to embrace every moment of my "last-teen" while it's here.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 24
Offline)
Comments5
You'll be twentyteen soon! LOL. Folk complain 'Oh, I'm getting old, when they approach 30 even!
Ha! That's a witty way of looking at it. Yes, I will be twentyteen and then thirtyteen and fortyteen. We are forever teenagers
It’s a natural fear. Just like I was so excited to hit 13 I was mortified of leaving 19… but soon learned to live each day to the fullest, minimising regret and maximising opportunities as they came along or were created. Good to hear you are okay. Your returned presence is great🙏🏻🕊️
Thank you so much for the kind words! You worded that so beautifully, life is all about seeking the opportunities ahead of us and living with as little regret as possible. It's nice to hear from you too.
Most welcome Rocky🕊️🙏🏻
The fear of the future and its responsibility is encased in this poem and reinforced with the clever word usage at the end in the last line and words.
Hello there! Yes, you are definitely on the right track with your interpretation. I wanted to metaphorize the end of a chapter of my life with the ending of the record, and the emptying of the mug. It's all symbolic of how our youth eventually ends, with the last stanza emphasizing how much I wish this feeling were everlasting. Thx for the thoughtful comment
A lovely write of the fear and anxiety of what lays ahead, very relatable write, I think we all had that in our teens, nicely expressed and written
Hi, thanks for the response! Yes, anxiety is definitely pervasive in this transitional phase of my life. I am just trying to navigate it with as much optimism as possible. It's all about appreciating the present.
You are very welcome
This poem beautifully captures the fleeting nature of time and youth, with vivid imagery and a sense of longing.
Hey! Thanks for your kind words. Indeed, our youth is so fleeting - it slips through our fingers. That's why it's so important to live every day to the fullest. Much love
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