Yesterday was my birthday
As always, I felt no change
For I never notice it
The act of growing older
Though I do it all the time
But if I think about it
I find I can't remember
What is was to be fifteen
Because it's too far away
And yet a part of me knows
That the younger me had dreams
The ones hoped for secretly
To become reality
But at thirty, they're still dreams
Floating little paper boats
With edges getting soggy
And I'm the puddle shrinking
Beneath the afternoon sun
Yearning to be an ocean
Afraid of being swallowed
By the thirsty grains of sand
Waiting for the gray rain clouds
To pour out and fill me up
Praying that my paper boats
Can weather another storm
About the Creator
D.K. Shepard
Character Crafter, Witty Banter Enthusiast, World Builder, Unpublished novelist...for now
Fantasy is where I thrive, but I like to experiment with genres for my short stories. Currently employed as a teacher in Louisville.
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More stories from D.K. Shepard and writers in Poets and other communities.
Let's Don't Do This
"I just can't do this anymore..." "Do what?" What can't you do? Put gas in your own car? I swear to God you make me take care of everything, don't you? You know I'm on my way to work right now but that never stops you from bothering me, does it?"
By Shirley Belk5 days ago in Fiction
Comments (19)
Happy Birthday DK. - I don't remember when I was 30
I am sorry I missed this DK. --- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I didn't even notice getting old in the past but I do now. When I was looking for the killer of my son, I was in a liquor store hanging a flyer, and they said the owner had the place on camera, and asked her who that elderly couple was that kept coming in and looking at the flyer. I thought I had a lead and asked her to describe them. She meekly said Ma'am it was you and your husband. I meekly said "Oh" - lol - I don't remember what it was like to turn 30. Again Happy Birthday DK.
Happy birthday, DK! Beautiful poem and yet scary too. Paper boats as a metaphor for dreams is a good one. Sometimes we have to give up our dreams to let them find us at a place of their timing and choosing when they can return as seaworthy crafts.
Delightful poem… trust you had a lovely birthday.🎂 💖 I also had one recently & am thinking of writing some silliness about it… but I’m trying to knock a ‘disappearance tale’ into shape first.😵💫 Your little boat is water proof and will easily weather another million storms!✅
Happy belated birthday! 🎉 I had similar feelings when I turned 30, but now close to 35 I feel way better about it and became more like that younger self, full of dreams and hopes.
This was phenomenally written!! I think as we age, we realize how very rooted in our realities we really are, which sucks. But dreams can be just as good in fantasy as they would be otherwise—perhaps even better, since there’s no chance of disappointment ;) Keep on dreaming!
Happy belated Birthday, DK! This poem made me contemplate the fullness of my life as well. Truly inspirational.
Happy (late) birthday DK!! I feel like aging is one of those things we don't believe until it's far beyond deniable, if that makes any sense. You don't see it until you see it! It's like healing, you don't you've healed until you remember the pain and realize its absence. 😅
Happy Birthday DK! I hope you had a smashing day. Thought this was such a fantastic way to explain the passage of time. I hope your paper boats can weather another storm and you achieve all that you have ever dreamed about.
Happy Birthday to you! I think your birthday must have actually been our anniversay-- the 18th? :) Lovely, reflective poem, DK! "Praying that my paper boats Can weather another storm"...I particulary enjoyed this. I always get very thoughtful on my birthday as well. Beautifully done, as always! :)
Happy late birthday, DK!! Hope you had the best!
Happy belated Birthday!!! And Beautiful poem. A very nice gift for oneself.
Beautifully done! Loved your lines in n being afraid of being swallowed by thirsty grains of sand.
Wishing you a belated happy birthday! 🎂✨️❤️ May those paper boats become steel ships!
Lovely piece. I’m always a bit maudlin on my bday, so like any other day actually. 😅 I wonder how we can get our dreams off the ground… I’ve recently been trying the imagining it technique to try and manifest things..it is helping a little. Dream away! 🙂
Happy birthday in arrears. Hope you had a good day 😊
It is a privilege to see your mind dance with time.
Happy late birthday! Indeed the paper boats image stood out to me in your poem. Great choice for the cover image 😁
ah, stunning take on the anxiety and almost mystery related to growing older! it happens, we often dont notice until decades have passed! love the puddle stuff! beautiful poem, DK!