Candy Colored Leaves

"You're changing," I whisper to myself 

"So am I," whispers the wind 

I think change is good 

Change is the way the air cools at night 

Change is the way I'm back at school again 

Change is the way I shiver in the morning 

Change is the way I grow up like the seasons 

Every year 

A little different but still me 

Still here 

Still learning

Change is how I feel about you

And how I'm starting to care more about myself 

Than all the tiny things you've said to me

It's the way my cherry tree is dropping lemon candy colored leaves

In the green green grass

And how the lake is safe again

But I'm too tired to unwind and take a night swim

Change is how I'm 18

Yet still who I was last fall

When my cherry tree dropped lemon candy colored leaves

"The world is changing" I whisper to myself

"So are you" Whispers the wind

But I don't want the world to change

I want fall to stay crisp

I want winter to stay cold

I want the trees to keep dropping candy colored leaves 

And the lake to still be safe 

But I do want to change

I want to find more time for myself

More time to collect candy colored leaves

Sip tea in my cardigan as the wind whispers 

"You are changing and so am I"