the light

alarm-clock

at the age of five,
we would run through fields,
and scrap up our knees.
laughing and playing in our backyards,
feeling carefree and fluid,
like nothing in the world could stop us.
/
at the age of ten,
we began to stop running.
runnung through those familiar fields,
we replaced those cutesy shoes,
with cool kid ones,
the ones with the on brand logo.
we began to stress over school,
and friends,
maybe how we didn't really quite fit in,
it became a game of competition,
rather than one of brilliance and friendship.
/
then, at the age of thirteen,
or maybe fourteen,
and maybe even fifteen,
we began to obsess.
obsess over popularity,
how that boy you really really loved,
rejected you in front of all his friends.
you began to feel anxious and exploited,
violated and untrusting,
you became a shell,
of that bubbly five year old,
you once knew.
/
but then by the age of sixteen,
maybe as old as eighteen,
you realize your life has flown by,
that the days turn into night,
and the only thing,
keeping you up and moving,
is that droning alarm clock,
beeping in your ear,
reminding you that you're alive
and sound.
reminding you that even though the world may seem insignificant,
you're a small part,
of the bigger picture,
whatever that may be.