When I Was

When I was a child, the world was new.

Everything was beautiful, bright, and shiny

Also boys had cooties.

When I was a child, I would rather be outside

Playing in mud and dirt,

Putting worms in my pocket and wrestling the boys.

When I was in the 4th grade, I was told to "sit like a lady"

That I couldn't wear shorts anymore, 

Cause skirts were more appropriate.

I was one of the unlucky ones. 

A kid whose body developed before my mind. 

Before my age.

When I was a child, I was forced to become an adult.

Because a "grown body" was all that mattered to predators,

Who take advantage of kid's who don't know how to say no. 

When I was an adult, I learned to grow a backbone

Because words will always hurt me, 

Because I still have yet to grow into my body.