Where Life Begins

I never thought I'd be 16

nor thought the grass would still be green.

At 5 I met my oldest friends

who I still talk to now and then.

At 6 and 7, all through 10

Nostalgic blurs remain of them.

The years I spent young and carefree

are now a simple memory

and moments I have kept and shared

of growing old we were so scared.

If I could say to little me

that we still love to climb a tree

still dance and read and run and play

that 16 does not wipe away 

all our joy and sparkle bright

that we only flew a different flight.

At 12 I studied bugs and worms

and now my path is paved with words

from people who have come and gone

and seen my 16 come along.