16 years
It has been 16 years
16 years and 9 months to be exact
17 years to be inexact
And I still never really know what to say
All the time
But I have had 16 years and 9 months to perfect
This whole human being thing
But this whole human being thing is really rough
All the time
Because just the other day someone asked me how I was doing
And I’m not sure if I formed a coherent string of words
A simple good would have been, well, good
But I think what escaped from my 16-year 9-month-old lips
Was yes
Yes
When someone greets me
I don’t think I’m supposed to say yes
Right?
Remember I’m 16 years and 9 months old
So I should know this
I can drive
I can vote in 15 months
I can legally drink in Belgium
I am a mostly strong (physically weak), independent woman
So I should know this
Yet I can’t seem to answer questions with the right words
Words I have known since I was one
Words I have spouted out coherently since I was two
And yet I still really don’t understand this whole human being thing
But that’s because I am 16 years and 9 months
Young
I should probably know how to greet someone
But 16 years and 9 months young
Means I can be unsure
It means I should be told I can make mistakes
And have that actually mean something
It means I should be able to make mistakes
Because I am 16 years and 9 months young and
I make mistakes
I love this. I love the repetition of your age and the way you constructed a poem based on an instance. I love this poem so much.
ReplyDeleteI love your intro paragraph. The poem itself is relatable and draws you in because of the structure, devices, and diction.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your poem. I thought that you were able to use a variety of literary devices effectively in your writing.
ReplyDeleteThis is really well done. I love your transition from "16 years and 9 months old" to "16 years and 9 months young" to show the meaning, and the poem has a tone that is more confused and less indignant, and I think that works nicely.
ReplyDeleteAww Kylie! I love this so much. I really like your use of diction because it really shows the in-balanced structure of the poem. My favorite line has to be "It has been 16 years / 16 years and 9 months to be exact / 17 years to be inexact" because it is a super cool way to begin your poem. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that you took one small moment and made it into a long and detailed poem. It was also cool how you used the idea of your exact age throughout it.
ReplyDeleteSO GOOD KYLES. :,)
ReplyDeleteQuite the relatable poem, especially with the saying "yes" to "how are you"! Although, I would like to say that you are physically strong, too.
ReplyDeleteI really like the line "I can legally drink in Belgium" honestly
ReplyDelete