Coco

I open the gates

And take a trip down memory lane

Everything’s changed since then

My childhood is gone but not forgotten

I remember riding my bike on the driveway

Rosalind, with the bedroom of her heart.

Rosalind, laughing alone among beauty. 

The mirror was laughing at her,

Behind her, looking straight through her. 

Rosalind left and discovered writing.

You spend most of your childhood wanting to grow up. You dream of all the things you'll do, the people you'll meet, the freedom of a life where you are the captain of your own ship.

I rang the doorbell to your heart, 

and throughout your house it rang, 

a bouquet of astilbes in one hand 

and in the other a pink dove. 

I carved it of cherry wood just for you, 

Perfect

I know I'll never reach

Perfection

No matter how hard I try

I can do better

I have to do better

I have planned out

The next 12 years

The college I'll go to

My grad school

tiny rectangular black hole

sucking us all in

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