I was 13
When I met him
By the wayside
And fell deep into
His heart
Drowning in a sea
Of his love
I was 13

I was 14
When I kissed him
So hungrily
As if my heart was an empty vessel
Needing to be filled with his kisses

I was 14
When he told me
He loved me
He needed me
Make love to me
Only 14

I turned 15
When we made love
And my secrets were exposed
To him and only
Him

I was 15
When I watched my baby
Forming inside me
In fear and wonder
Knowing my one mistake
Would haunt me for the rest
Of my life

I was 15
When I saw my mom cry
For the first time
And pleaded for me to listen
Please…
Listen

I was 15
When he told me
He wasn’t ready for a
Baby
And left me behind
Shattering my weak heart

Oh how I begged for him
To stay!
How pathetic I was to
Think he would listen

I was 16
When that small child
Opened its mouth
And cried out for me
And the pain and sorrow
Disappeared
As I held him in my arms

I was 16
When my childhood
Moved on
And I became
A woman