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At Nana's Knee

When I was just a little girl,
I sat at my Nana's knee.
And she softly whispered life's truths to me,
But I was to young, don't you see.
Oh I heard the words, and I listened to her,
But I didn't know what they meant.
Finally I know what the words were about,
She was speaking about life well spent.
The older you get, the faster it goes.
I heard it a hundred times.
But only today, do I understand.
As I write down these words and rhymes.
Life is like a bank account.
It's all in the final balance.
Sometimes it comes from hard work,
Or maybe from happenstance.
We all make our deposits,
Withdrawals we make as well.
But the truth is measured by time well spent.
We make our own heaven or hell.

No Prom For Me

There was no prom for me you see,
No senior trip as well.
While you were all enjoying school.
I was stuck in my own hell.
My dad a drunk, my mom was nuts.
I hid my fears alone.
I never knew what I might find,
So I brought no one home.
It was such an easy solution,
No lies to tell about home.
Held the least risk of discovery,
Seeds of secrets so well sown.
The only prom dress I ever wore,
Was a neighbors cast off one.
Instead of wearing a dress to the prom,
I pretended it wouldn't be fun.
I had a dress schetched out in my mind,
I drew it over and over.
The color of blue, with a slight cast of green.
That wrapped around my shoulder.
I could almost taste and feel it,
I wanted to dance and twirl.
But it still remains a dream to me.
Trapped in a teenage world.
But I just couldn't chance the truth you see,
I would die if you found out.
So in silence I suffered, thank you but no.
As my dreams of the ball were snuffed out.
So, I'll never be Cinderella.
Though my dreams were burnt to ashes,
Glass slippers aren't meant for everyone.
And sometimes princes wear glasses.

© All Copyright 2000, Nancy Wydeen-Cerretain..
All Rights Reserved. Printed By Permission.