When I Was

When I was three years old
I thought the sky was blue
Because it was my favorite color
When I was five years old
I thought school would be the end of me
Until my brother told me we got to finger paint
When I was seven years old
I was the fastest kid on the soccer team
So my coach told me to never stop running
When I was nine years old
I told my mom I didn't want to turn 10
Because I was afraid of the year 2000
When I was eleven years old
I was the fastest kid in York County
But running was just my part time hobby
When I was thirteen years old
I wrote 40 poems for my 7th grade English class
Unfortunately to date, I can't recall a single one
When I was fifteen years old
I met my mentor in freshman literature
Yet I still believed science was my calling
When I was seventeen years old
I was elected junior class president
It just so happened, there was no one else on the ballot
When I was nineteen years old
I met a friend who wished to walk
And walk and walk through a sea of white blazes
When I was twenty-one years old
I saw pain and suffering in the hearts of my patients
And renewed an old faith that would never fall asleep
When I was twenty three years old
I was given a second chance
And found what being mindful was really all about
When I was twenty five years old
I stumbled upon a farmer
Who would kindly bring me back to my forgotten, poetic soul
And when I was twenty seven years old
I would collapse into a most surprising presence
Who would slow me down
And open my arms
So she could collapse
Inside of me to