the age of 17 revisited

Earlier today, I was reading an old AIM (!!) conversation I had with a friend, and in it she mentioned a poem that I completely forgot about.  It was a poem I had written, which she had used in a presentation.  This poem seems to be quite popular from my repertoire (yes, let's pretend I have one of those) as it has been read aloud or shared in some form eight separate times.  Oddly enough, though, I have never been the one to read it or share it, nor have I heard it being read.  I posted it on one of my old blogs and my deviantArt site (hmm...I should really see what I have on that) and next thing I know, I had people requesting to use it for personal or academic things.

So, I went and found it, and now I share with you.  It was written November 24, 2004 at the ripe age of 17...and I still remember down the detail why it was written and who it was written for.  I am astounded that, even as I read it now, it's very true and very applicable to several situations.  Sad in a way, really.

Anyway.  Without further ado...

Wasted Words

I smiled and laughed at your jokes
Cried and comforted at your sorrow
I stood by your side in your deepest time of need

It was all wasted words

When I cry, pick up the phone and dial your number
No one is home
When I shine, call your name to spill the good news
No one answers

It was all wasted words

I don’t know what to call us
We were the closest friends for awhile,
And soon I could barely stand your presence
We were once the golden, sought after relationship
But now

It was all wasted words

Twenty years from now my name will nag your memory
It will spark a past you have long since forgotten
Ten years from now you’ll smile at my shadow
And think, “yeah those were good times”
Five years from now I’ll be on your Christmas card list
Of those you never got around to
Next year will be a formal “hello how are you goodbye”
And no longer will I cross your mind

It was all wasted words

Next year I’ll still think of you, every day
Five years in the future you will be the one I regret
Ten years from now you will be the one who I let get away
Twenty years from now I can only imagine

It was all wasted words