Ode to Sixteen Summers

By Amehja Williams, 17, Pennsylvania

summer seems not long ago

yet now the blizzards come and go

with sleet and slush and silver snow

the trees swish-sway, to and fro.

ice crystals sprout across the window

where wild weeds once yearned to grow

as if all the dandelion seeds i used to blow

found this polar pane for home.

as i sit upon this shiv’ring sill

colder yet, and colder still

freezes that old summer thrill

of picnic days and time to kill.

peering down this glacial hill

of time spent and more to fill

i see within an icebound rill

summer succumb to the chill.

so although there may yet be 

many sublime summers still to see

none shall ever compare to thee

or ever make me feel as free

(for only once is one sixteen).

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I wrote this piece staring out a window during a blizzard. I couldn’t believe how extreme the weather had changed in what seemed like a short period of time, which reminded me how soon I’ll be graduating high school and leaving parts of my childhood behind. I felt very present in the moment and wanted to cherish what little of my childhood I had left, especially since parts of it have been stolen from me. Regardless of what I missed out on, this poem honors the experiences I did have and appreciates those ahead of me.

Photo by Kristaps Grundsteins