Dolce

16 candles

on my birthday cake

16 repetitions, 16 wishes

16 years.

Sweet 16? How so sweet?

Be like this…look like this…think like this

Who am I?

Sweet 16?

Parents

Clean your room…don’t be fresh

Leave me alone

When I was your age…

…it was a different time!

You can’t relate!

I’m too old for your childish affections.

But sometimes I need

unconditional love

the voice of experience

to keep my head straight.

Is there a middle?

Sweet 16?

Friends are confusing

Which ones are jealous, which ones betray

Which ones will listen to my tears

on the phone

at 11 p.m.

minutes for sleeping

slipping through their fingers

but that doesn’t matter

because I need their help.

16 friendships, 16 fights

16 ends

16 tears

wrapped in heartbreak and confusion

wrapped in jubilance and clarity

my head spins

grades grades grades

Do you know what school you’ll go to keri?

Do you know what job you want keri?

Do you know what future you want keri?

Do you do you?

No

I’m just 16, I’m only a baby…I don’t want to face these realities

I’m 16! I’m all grown up, give me responsibility, treat me like I’m older already

What the hell?

Where’s the sweet part?