Cherish it, children -
cherish the cherry blossoms for they bloom in spring and fall shortly thereafter.
Cherish the clear sky for soon enough, smog will cower in the corners of the night.
Cherish the freedom of childhood; soon you'll turn ten and be off to college or travel the world.
Cherish this second because it's over before you realize how many milliseconds went away with it.

I think I lost my innocence when I knew a hug wouldn't erase the problems in my life.


But it helps.

she washes her face with cappuccino cream
her eyelashes are showered in burnt coffee.
It's never been so hot in June
and it has been months since she's peeked at the moon.
One month left, she tells her reflection -
that is, one month left until summer truly starts,
one month left until papers are due and life is true
one month until you swim in purple stripes
and ticks take hikes
and lines catch pikes.
One month left and then you can let go and fall apart.
And then...
What will hope behold?

When I was young, I hadn't learned of wars.
I thought they lasted hours, not lifetimes.
When I was young, I wanted to live in my room forever.
I didn't know there was a world past my backyard.
When I was young I played with kind kids.
I didn't know that people were mean because of someone's home.
When I was young, I disliked school.
I didn't know how much I took for granted.
When I was young, I was terribly afraid of getting taken.
I didn't know how many children went lost.
When I was young, I was free and had infinite imagination -
now I am caged inside of it.

In my stories, I am the girl in the back with pretty eyes and bitten nails, a girl with a thousand classic books read and the daughter feeling somehow abandoned with a family that loves her.

In reality, I mind not the middle of the class, my eyes I find nice and no matter how hard I try, my nails only shrink with a cutter. I abandon myself and I confess to a bunch of strangers how twisted a little girl's life grows once she is exposed to the realities of her mind, poisoned by, well, society.

But honestly, no one is to blame.

have you ever had a coffee,
so terrible in taste but warm and inviting -
a place to numb insomnia.