Coming of Age, in Two Acts
“Coming of age rarely happens in a straight line.
It comes in movements - in two acts that echo each other: the act of becoming, and the act of breaking.
The first shapes us. The second transforms us.
A small poetry archive about girlhood, heartbreak, fear, blame, softness and becoming -
written long before I had the language for it.
The years where everything felt too loud and too quiet at the same time.”
Four green eyes
Once there was a little boy
And I saw it in his eyes
And he saw it in mine
it was so fine
the line to define
the sign of aligned
crimes
Wish I knew back then
Wish you knew back then
Wish I could've told you then
"I am sorry"
Wish I could have,
should have explained
Wish I didn't
see your pain.
Please comprehend
everything I knew back then
was being scared of them
and her
Just as you must've been of yours
And I know they don't compare
but still know:
I care
Maybe it was all in my head
Probably you never really knew me
Why did you think it meant something
to me
Did you know me
Do you agree
Did you see
something in my eyes,
hidden behind a smile
Did you feel it
please, reveal it
Hope all that spilled wine
will not confine, will not define
your capacity of love, and happiness
I will always wish you the best.
Daring daughters
Hello Princess Charming,
I don't like the way you dress darling
But have you heard about Inez sweetie?
She's such a beauty!
Why don't you fix your hair my dear?
Wouldn't want people to stare, oh dear!
I know You don't care, honey
But I do, I care, I know
it's funny!
I Care that you never go out these days.
Why wouldn't you want to go out these days?
Maybe it's your attitude my love.
Mind looking more cheerful, oh lord?!
Darling, people don't like spoiled.
So stop acting so silly,
I'm disappointed.
I merely want what's best for you.
These days there're only just a few
but there'll always be
us two
Just stop wearing only black
and blue.
Pointed fingers won't linger
Why are you laughing at me?
Do you really can't see
The sensitive soul inside of me?
You seemingly deal
with your own insecurities
But careful, you soon will see
mean, means meaningless
and that'll seal
your heart
and it'll mould maliciously making
your soul
sick
soon to be seen.
Loved you the most
(a friendship broke)
I missed you for years
then fear did appear
telling me to wonder
why a little girl so fonder
could leave me behind
with no response to find
Let me tell you,
friends can break your heart too
Is it a friend if they leave you?
There is no regret, nor hard feelings
I just wish I could've been faster at healing
There was a time when pain paralysed me
but it also stopped my actions
preventing me to become someone
I wasn't
Your pain taught me compassion, patience and persistence
taught me to be more careful, thoughtful
to not let more pain through
helped me to shield myself
and later caused me to feel more
for everyone else
Now I'm listening to cries
and searching for sad eyes
instead of white lies
and preferring room corners
over fake supporters
Now I rarely miss you
and when I do
I look at you
Who are you?
I rarely see anything
that I loved about you
Wish it wasn't true
I can't find the girl I knew.
Wrong direction
I see your eyes everywhere I go
in everything beautiful that I know,
now I hate everything though
'Try not to let it show
Please, someone stop this flow
It started years ago
I try to flea
now I'm sipping my tea
But two brown eyes are still hunting me
Just set me free
let me be
Dear head, why disagree?
Hear my heart's plea!
Outer body experience
fucks with your confidence
one who hasn't experienced
won’t comprehend
to them it's mysterious
how luxurious
Yet, I won't be furious.
'Tis the season
Christmas trees are starting to grow
dropping their needles so low
But we picked them up
summed them up
Put them up
On our shelves
So we could taste that
Christmas feeling
Which might as well be deceiving.
Heartbreak.
💔
Heartbreak. 💔
C for confession
I dreamed of you -
blue, pale, white
snowstorm
Dancing in circles
knew you existed, still
you took me by storm,
consuming me
leading me right inside
bright blue eyes
braveness that's what I see
gleaming right at me
peaking trough white strains
Touches of pale fingertips
leaving icy marks
I feel them lingering, prickling
long after
you've left
this truth can't be confessed
Past frozen behind foggy memories
Recognition strikes
- It was just a dream
gone with the wind
feel like I’ve sinned
hate all this shame from within.
Beheading
There is a needle in my head
Sticking and stitching - belittling
There is a tornado in my head
Spinning and swinging - conspiring
There is a ghost inside my head
Spooking and soothing - fooling
There is a stranger inside
my head, hurting me
headhunting, for free.
Take notes
I realise I don’t like the defeat
of a heart’s skipping beat
anymore
I like your eyes, they are pure and kind
hard to find
I like pureness and kindness
I don’t like anxiousness
I realise I don’t like sympathy passes
of rose-coloured glasses
anymore
I like your smile, it is warm and sweet
makes a day seem complete
I like warmth and sweetness
I don’t like derisiveness
I realise I don’t like the tendency
of dependency
anymore
I like your character, it is honest and open-minded
somebody to confide in
I like honesty and open-mindedness
– Think time tells, I finally like the self.
by Elena Franke
