glimpse of us
I have always been drawn to the roots of childhood, identity, and what makes me stand out from the people next to me. Being in a season of life where I am getting ready to take steps toward the beginning of my future, I felt a little nostalgic. I often wonder if the younger version of me would be proud of where I am now. I miss being young and navigating the world through innocent bliss. Over the years, I have watched myself drift away from the inviting, confident, bubbly spirit I embodied as a young girl. I miss when I didn’t worry about the future and the most important thing in my life was going to gymnastics practice. I think this was one of the hardest poems to write because I noticed how easy it is to remember the joys of growing up and that it’s okay to hold onto the little girl inside of you. Finding the sole purpose of writing this was difficult. Why is it important to remember how you grew up or how it has shaped you now? Why do I feel like I am not ready to remember? Why is the younger version of me so brave? Why am I intimidated by who I used to be? Glimpse of Us is a testament to growing up and not letting go of your inner child – they deserve to continue the journey with you.
Glimpse of Us by Anyah Jackson
The girl I see in the
mirror looks a lot like
me.
She only visits on occasion,
when I’ve lost my way;
Small dainty fingers
tap on the glass.
Her eyes, deep and brown,
glow like honey when the sun
passes through illuminated
innocence.
She waits for me
to step onto her side;
see the world
from behind the glass
I’m not ready.
She smiles at me.
Teeth spread like
monkey bars you can’t
reach; the gaps
wait to be filled.
Her brown skin glistens
in her white dress.
She twirls and her afro
bends like a handpicked
dandelion – someone
holds to make a wish.
I remember the
night sky filling
with fireflies; running
through ornamental grass;
neglecting the way it itches
my legs– I watched them
shimmer in moonlight.
I inhaled the stale
summer air,
salt soaked in
the magic of
adolescence.
I look into the mirror
to see her backside.
She took careful steps away
from me; her arms gently
swung past
her side.
I watched until she
disappeared.
I envied the fireflies
that followed her
footsteps.