Nineteen years ago I saw a white room.

I cried once,

I lived once,

I never saw the room again.

 

Eighteen years ago I saw a concrete building,

I drew once on the kitchen counter,

I crawled once on the hardwood floor,

I never saw that apartment again.

 

Seventeen years ago I saw my grandfather's rice fields,

I ran with the chickens once,

I danced with the villagers once,

I never saw the farming town again.

 

Sixteen years ago I saw a fruit stand,

I talked to the grocer once,

I played with his daughter once,

I never saw the ripe fruit again.

 

Fifteen years ago I saw a pre-school,

I played there once,

I made friends there once,

I never saw the lively place again.

 

Fourteen years ago I saw the clouds,

I moved to a different world once,

I left my friends once.

I never saw them again.

 

Thirteen years ago I saw a new home,

I painted the walls once,

I baked with my neighbor once,

I never saw the red brick interior again.

 

Twelve years ago I saw a new language,

I went to ESOL once,

I learned a new culture once,

I never saw it with clear eyes again.

 

Eleven years ago I saw an amusement park,

I saw an orca once,

I saw acrobats once,

I never saw so much awe in one place again.

 

Ten years ago I saw a cold land,

I saw the sky falling once,

I saw fear reflected once,

I never saw such fright again.

 

Nine years ago I saw magic,

I saw a trick once,

I believed once,

I never saw wonder again.

 

Eight years ago I saw screams,

I saw anger once,

I saw confusion once,

I never saw perfect harmony again.

 

Seven years ago I saw drama,

I saw favoritism once,

I saw loss once,

I never saw such confusion again.

 

Six years ago I saw unfairness,

I had an amazing teacher once,

I had a good friend once,

I never saw her again,

 

Five years ago I saw applications,

I was nervous once,

I was afraid once,

I never saw those scores again.

 

Four years ago I saw a wonderful world,

I walked through hallways of love,

I had a supporting family,

I never saw such a warm place again.

 

Three years ago I saw connection,

I bonded with friends once,

I learned about myself once,

I never saw such introspection again.

 

Two years ago I saw acceptance,

I knew I could always come back,

I thought it all bittersweet,

I never saw my 119 sisters together again.

 

One year ago I saw a new journey,

I know I have yet to begin life,

I have so much to learn,

I never saw a new start again.

 

Today I saw daylight,

I see a new sun,

I see a new light,

I will never see the same day again.

 

Nineteen years I have lived,

I will only live those years once,

I will only write this once,

Tomorrow was once a time unto today.

 

Tomorrow,

Yesterday I wrote a poem once,

I realized where I have been,

I wrote once for me,

I never saw time again.